Accident Database

Report ID# 646

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  • Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
  • Does not Apply
  • High Water

Accident Description

Samuel Johnson,  74, a passenger on a commercial raft trip died in Utah’s Cataract Canyon on May 12th. Aida Parkinson forwarded the National Park Service Morning Report, which described the incident as follows: The river that day was flowing at 27,000 cfs, a high level. The 18’ raft Johnson was riding flipped in Big Drop #2, putting four people in the water. Johnson washed downstream through the huge hydraulic in Satan’s Gut (Big Drop #3) before he was picked up by a motorized raft. A physician on the trip attempted to revive him, but was unsuccessful. A 54-year-old woman on the same trip nearly drowned and had to be evacuated by helicopter.  

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