CALIFORNIA RAFTER SWIMS AND PINS

North Fork of the American; Chamberlin Falls Section: May 1, 1993

Gradient 44 fpm; Volume 3,000 cfs; Classification IV+

DESCRIPTION: The North Fork of the American is a popular Class IV springtime run for Northern California boaters. 3,000 cfs is considered quite high, and the river is quite pushy at this level. The victim was on a two-boat trip; both craft had wrapped simultaneously in a rapid called "Tongue and Groove". Other swimmers made it to shore successfully, but the victim, Peter Sterret, 30, caught his leg and was pulled under. He held his hand above water. Someone reached out with a paddle, but he could not hold on. His helmet was stripped off by the rushing water.

The group first tried to pull Sterret out from a raft stationed downstream. This failed. They then repositioned themselves and pulled laterally, the way the crack seemed to run. This worked. At the last moment another raft, totally out of control, ignored the upstream lookouts and hung up on the lines.

SOURCE: Joel Spiegel posting to rec.boats.paddle

ANALYSIS: A heads-down entrapment gives rescuers very few options. I suspect this group did the best they could