In the spring of 1986 a group of two boaters who had rafted the Lehigh River (Class II-III) and the Tohickon at a lower level launched their raft from Stover Park at a level of 4 feet. The river is relentless at this level, with numerous large stoppers. As they approached the site of the annual kayak races at Bucks County Park (Mile-Long Rapid) their two man raft was half-full of water. Entering the drop, they got caught in a large hole formed by the top ledge. One of the paddlers was not wearing a wetsuit. He jumped out of the raft to act as a downstream anchor to pull the raft free and took a long, nasty swim. The other paddler, his cousin, only had wetsuit pants. He followed moments later when the raft capsized. Both were taken to Doylestown Hospital and treated for hypothermia. The raft was recovered by local police and returned to them a few days later.

SOURCE: Matt O’Donnell