Kayaker rescued from Arkansas River dies
by SHANNON MUCHMORE, Tulsa World News, Tulsa, OK
Published: 5/24/2010
A kayaker who fell into the Arkansas River on Monday was pronounced dead at a Tulsa hospital after rescue crews pulled him from the water. The 35-year-old man, who was not identified Monday pending notification of his relatives, was kayaking alone when he went over the Zinc Lake low-water dam under the pedestrian bridge near 31st Street and Riverside Drive about 10:30 a.m., Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Bill French said.
The river just beneath the dam features a strong undertow that firefighters have referred to as a “drowning machine.” The man fell out of the kayak and into the churning waters before drifting south. He was wearing a life preserver but not a helmet, officials said. Tulsa firefighters sent out three rescue boats and were able to reach him about a mile south of the bridge. They pulled him out, unconscious and in cardiac arrest, and began CPR immediately. He was taken to the riverbank near Cherry Creek, just north of Interstate 44 on the west bank of the river. He was then taken in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital, and he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
The river’s water level was high Monday because of recent rains. Tulsa has received nearly 4.5 inches of rain so far this month, according to the National Weather Service. “The water has been flowing really rapidly there (by the low-water dam) because of all the recent rain,” Fire Capt. A.J. Ridener said. The dam has long been a dangerous spot for swimmers and boaters. At least 13 people have drowned there since 1983,
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx? subjectid=11&articleid=20100524_11_0_Amanwh327133
Kayaker dies after going over dam on Zink Lake
A kayaker who died after being rescued by Tulsa fire and police from the Arkansas River has been identified and next of kin has been notified, said Fire Capt. Bill French. Derrek Waldon Richardson, 31, was reportedly kayaking alone when he went over the Zink Lake low-water dam under the pedestrian bridge near 31st Street and Riverside Drive about 10:30 a.m. Monday, French said.
Tulsa firefighters sent out three rescue boats and were able to reach him about a mile south of the bridge. They pulled him out, unconscious and in cardiac arrest, and began CPR immediately. He was taken to the riverbank near Cherry Creek, just north of Interstate 44 on the west bank of the river. He was then taken in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital, and he was pronounced dead a few hours later. He had worked for St. Francis Health Systems as a traveling nurse since 2007.
By Staff Reports
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100525_11_0_Akayak160562
05-24-10 TULSA, OK Kayaker rescued from Arkansas River dies <http://www.newsok.com/tulsa-police-fire-rescue-kayaker-from-arkansas-river/article/3463485?custom_click=headlines_widget> newsok.com (05-24-10)
Authorities rescued a man who fell out of his kayak into the Arkansas River late Mon. morning (05-24). The man, who was wearing a lifejacket and no helmet, fell into the river near the low-water dam at the pedestrian bridge. Medics took him to St. Francis Hosp. in critical condition after he was found unconscious and in full cardiac arrest.
