Alaska boater is rescued after swimming to island

A former state lawmaker and prominent lawyer was found conscious but suffering from hypothermia on an island Monday, a day after his boat was discovered cruising unmanned in a Juneau bay.

Bruce Weyhrauch was reported missing after boaters spotted his 15-foot Boston Whaler on Sunday evening.

Ninety minutes earlier, Weyhrauch, 54, had dropped off his teenage son on the beach near their home and headed for a harbor less than a mile away.

He told authorities that he slipped on some oil, hit his head and fell off the boat. He said it took an hour to swim to the island in the 40-degree water.

Weyhrauch’s waterfront house is within sight of the island where he was found, but between them is icy Auke Bay.

Searchers in helicopters and boats fanned out over 10 square miles, Coast Guard spokesman Scott Wilwert said.

Weyhrauch was found Monday morning in wet jeans and a sweatshirt. He was taken to a Juneau hospital, where a spokeswoman said he was stable.