Valdez, AK – At 0954 hours on 7/30/19, Valdez Dispatch received a report of two deceased

individuals floating in the water near the toe of the Valdez Glacier. Valdez Fire and Police

responded to the Valdez Glacier Viewing area, where they observed a tour group preparing to

disembark from shore. Those individuals were instructed to remain on shore, and two members

of the Valdez Fire Department used one of their kayaks to paddle to the toe of the Valdez

Glacier to assess the incident site and contact the citizen who reported the incident. Three

additional members of the Valdez Fire Department quickly followed in a search and rescue raft.

Valdez Fire Department personnel confirmed that two individuals were deceased, and also

located another deceased individual at the incident site. The initial complainant, and two

passengers, were sent to shore and were interviewed by a Valdez Police Officer, while two

other Valdez Police Officers utilized a jet-engine inflatable boat to respond to the toe of the

Valdez Glacier to document the scene and assist the Valdez Fire Department in body recovery.

Responding officials located two deceased individuals in close proximity to one another, floating

next to an overturned inflatable canoe. The third body was located floating in the middle of the

channel a short distance away, with significant head trauma. All three were wearing life jackets.

The area surrounding them was littered with floating icebergs, glacial slush, and challenging

terrain for recovery. All three individuals, the inflatable canoe, paddles, pump, and personal

effects were recovered and transported back to the Valdez Glacier Viewing area.

One of the items recovered was a waterproof plastic box which contained identification for one

of the deceased individuals, as well as a set of keys. Valdez Police Officers used those keys to

enter into a motorhome parked at the Valdez Glacier Viewing area. Two others sets of

identification were located in the motorhome.

The motorhome and belongings were towed by the City of Valdez while the Valdez Fire

Department transported the bodies to Providence Valdez Medical Center. The Medical

Examiner’s office was contacted and arrangements were made for transport to Anchorage.

The deceased individuals were identified as:

Manfred Brida [DOB: 10/16/56], an Austrian national

Mrs. Maria Elisabeth Schröer [DOB: 11/10/50], a German national

Dr. Albrecht Paul Thomas Schröder-Schröer [DOB: 11/11/52], a German national

Next of kin notification was conducted with the assistance of the Honorary German Consulate

(Anchorage, AK), the German Consulate (San Francisco, CA), the Austrian Consulate General

(Los Angeles, CA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.