MICA Guide Plunges Into Frigid Matanuska River & Saves Victims Of Plane Crash

 Guide Tied Himself To ATV & Swam Out To The Plane  

7-Month Old Baby Among The Rescued 

Matanuska River. (Photo, Country Journal) 

Brett Winterbottom of Glacier View performed an unlikely and dangerous water rescue on Saturday May 28th. He tied himself to his ATV and swam into the frigid waters of the Matanuska River, saving the lives of several people, including a 7-month old child. The incident happened at Mile 99 of the Glenn. 

Brett Winterbottom (according to his Facebook site)  has worked at MICA Guides at Mile 102.5 on the Glenn Highway in Glacier View since 2017. According to another website, Mountain Project, he is 30 years old and from Park City, Utah. 

Brett Winterbottom From Facebook Site 

He has an extensive climbing record, the site says, having climbed in Morocco, Yosemite, and many other places. 

In our part of Alaska, the rivers are exceptionally dangerous. Hypothermia frequently kills those who fall in. During the 1898 Gold Rush, many people died in local rivers. 

TROOPER DISPATCH:

Location: Glacier View

Type: Airplane Crash

Dispatch Text:

On 05/28/2022 at approximately 1834 hours, MATCOM received 911 calls advising of a plane that crashed into the Matanuska River near mile 99 of the Glenn Highway. The plane was occupied by three individuals including two adults and a 7-month-old child.

Nearby citizens witnessed the crash and immediately responded to assist where they found the airplane sinking into the river. Brett Winterbottom of Glacier View tethered himself to his ATV and swam into the Matanuska River and saved the adult male and 7-month-old child. Brett passed the baby to Tammy Saunders, a nurse who is visiting Alaska from Texas who was able to immediately render aid. 

The female occupant of the aircraft became separated and swam herself to shore on the opposite side of the river. Another citizen arrived in a helicopter, collected her, and transported her to her family.

LifeMed responded to the scene and assisted in transporting the female and the infant to the hospital.

AST would like to thank the citizens who provided immediate rescue efforts and saved these three individuals!