The search for 39-year-old Alfonso Graham has been suspended after days of intensive efforts on the Bogachiel River, where a boating accident claimed the lives of a 35-year-old fishing guide and his 7-year-old son.
First responders from several agencies worked through the weekend along a rugged stretch of river between the Wilson Road boat launch and Leyendecker County Park, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said in an update Monday, Nov. 3.
Crews included members of Fire District #1’s Swift Water Rescue Team, the Department of Corrections Inmate Recovery Team, Clallam County Search and Rescue, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Three drones were deployed to assist in the search, but Graham, of Port Orchard, has not been found.
Dog Found Alive, Offering Family a Glimpse of Hope
On Monday morning, a Forks resident spotted a dog matching the description of the one lost in the accident. The dog ran to a nearby home, where it was secured and later reunited with the Akers family. Officials described the recovery as a small but meaningful comfort amid an otherwise devastating tragedy.
Search efforts have been paused due to high river volume, poor visibility, and debris, sheriff’s officials said. “As river conditions improve, our office will reevaluate future search efforts,” the agency said.
Remembering Christian and Wyatt Akers
Christian Akers, a Navy veteran and owner of Olympic Peninsula Chrome & Steel, was known for guiding salmon and steelhead fishing trips across the region’s storied rivers and for offering discounts to fellow veterans, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was aboard the drift boat with his son Wyatt, Graham, and another man when it overturned on Thursday, Oct. 30 near milepost 4 off State Route 110.
A 33-year-old Port Orchard man survived by clinging to a tree and calling 911, authorities said. Rescue teams later found Akers and his son, but despite lifesaving measures, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Nicole Berry has raised more than $23,000 to support Akers’ wife, Daylee Joers Akers, and their surviving son, Aiden. “This is just one way we can wrap this family in support, care, and steadiness as they move through heartbreak,” Berry wrote.
Family members and friends have flooded social media with messages of grief and solidarity. “Please keep our family in your prayers,” wrote Lea White-Akers, Christian’s stepmother. “Christian was a river fishing guide in Sequim. He was on a fishing trip with his son, dog, and two others when their boat got caught on a snag and was overcome with water.”
Graham’s family and friends continue to hold out hope as searchers monitor conditions for a possible resumption of recovery efforts. Those interested in supporting the family can do so via GoFundMe.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Puget Press updates.
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