7/10/2009 8:56:00 AM Email this article Print this article
Man dies in rafting accident
David Campbell becomes third river death in two days
Jessie Aragon - Mail Staff Writer
David Campbell, 49 of Carrollton, Texas, died in a rafting accident on the Arkansas River near Nathrop after the commercial raft in which he was riding capsized Thursday morning.
The incident occurred about 10:36 a.m. in Pinball rapid, Class III whitewater near the north end of Browns Canyon.
Chaffee County Undersheriff Keith Pinkston reported Campbell was among seven in a Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base boat operated by the Boy Scouts of America.
After hitting a rock in the middle of the river, the raft threw all passengers into the water. All either swam to shore or climbed aboard another raft.
There were no other injuries.
Campbell held onto the capsized raft and was soon helped into another boat. He was responsive then, officials said, but became unresponsive minutes after the rescuing raft reached shore.
Efforts to resuscitate Campbell began immediately by medical personnel on scene.
Because of remoteness of the area, Colorado State Park Rangers and Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived within the hour. After their arrival, resuscitation efforts were ended.
Chaffee County Search and Rescue volunteers evacuated the victim using Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the east side of the river.
Randy Amettis, Chaffee County coroner, was present and pronounced the victim dead at 12:40 p.m. Coroner's personnel reported an autopsy will be performed in Colorado Springs at 9 a.m. today.
At the time of the incident, Arkansas River flow was 1,860 cubic feet per second measured at the Nathrop gauging station.
Campbell became the third river related death on the Arkansas in two days.
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