County Coroner Confirms Student Death

Officials at Humboldt State University were notified June 29 by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office that it had positively identified a body recovered earlier in the day from the Trinity River as that of Jian Kang, 21, an exchange student who was reported swept away June 19 while attending a birthday celebration at Tish Tang Creek Campground.
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Campus authorities have notified the family, and expect them to arrive in Arcata soon. The University is providing housing for the family during their stay, and will work with them in planning a memorial observance on campus if they wish to do so.

Vice President of Student Affairs Peg Blake said, “Everyone in the HSU community extends heartfelt condolences to Kang’s family for this terrible loss. Their son was an outstanding student and ambassador on behalf of the People’s Republic of China. Kang will be deeply missed and always remembered by everyone here who knew him, studied with him, and played with him. He was both a devoted student and friend who knew how to enjoy life to the fullest while pursuing his ardent academic interests. We are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss.”

At the request of Rod Mendes, Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Office of Emergency Services, the Humboldt State University Police Department assisted with the June 29 search.

University Police Officers Will Hostler and Chance Carpenter, both familiar with the area, were assigned to boat patrol teams. They joined in the search of the riverbanks downstream from Tish Tang Creek Campground and assisted in recovering the body.