A tourist who went missing after she failed to return to her cruise ship last week has been found dead.
Marites Buenafe, 62, of Kentucky, was visiting Alaska’s capital city when she did not return from a hike.
Late Thursday, an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter discovered her body beneath the ridge line of Gold Ridge, as confirmed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
Buenafe is listed as a doctor at UK HealthCare, a system of hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky.
The Norwegian Bliss cruise ship is pictured navigating John Hopkins Inlet in Glacier Bay, Alaska, on Thursday, July 11, 2019. (Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
On July 1, the Juneau Police Department received a report from Buenafe’s family, mentioning she had set out for a hike that morning. She intended to use a well-known tourist tram to ascend part of a mountain overlooking downtown Juneau and then proceed to Gastineau Peak and Gold Ridge, as detailed by the state Department of Public Safety.
She had gotten off the Norwegian Bliss and did not return to the vessel by its departure time.
The 62-year-old woman’s relatives called authorities after she failed to return to the cruise ship as it was docked in Juneau, Alaska. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the guest,” a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our CARE team is providing support to the guest’s family and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
