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Tragic fate: Missing doctor found dead on Alaska cruise
Tragic end to a hiking trip: Missing doctor Marites Buenafe was found dead after her cruise in Alaska.
Tragic fate: Missing doctor found dead on Alaska cruise
A tragic incident mars a cruise through Alaska when 62-year-old doctor Marites Buenafe from Kentucky goes missing during a hiking trip and is later found dead. Buenafe, who was a senior physician at the University of Kentucky Healthcare, was aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Bliss with two family members on July 1, 2025, planning a week-long tour.
On the morning of her disappearance, at 7:30 a.m., she sent a final sign of life to her family while making her way to the Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau. Security cameras confirmed that she was seen at the hill station at the same time. The hiking route is considered challenging and is usually completed in around three hours. Buenafe was supposed to return to the ship at 3:15 p.m., but she did not arrive on time.
Search operation and discovery of the body
At 3:15 p.m. Buenafe was finally reported missing, triggering a large-scale search operation. Search and rescue teams, supported by scores of volunteers, used dogs, drones and helicopters to find them. However, the search efforts were called off on the evening of July 2nd due to poor weather conditions.
On July 4, an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter discovered her body about 500 meters below the ridgeline of Gold Ridge. Juneau Mountain Rescue and the National Guard, in collaboration with helicopter company Temsco Helicopters, were used in the rescue. Her body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy, but the exact cause of death remains unclear.
Reactions and warnings
Norwegian Cruise Line expressed its deep regret over the death of Marites Buenafe and offered its support to her family. Austin McDaniel of the Alaska Department of Public Safety also warned that hiking in Alaska's wilderness is often underestimated, further underscoring the tragedy of this incident.
Buenafe's family flew to Juneau after the ship left at 1:45 p.m. to actively participate in the search for the missing doctor. This unforeseen drama has moved readers worldwide and is a reminder of how dangerous and unpredictable nature can be.