Accident Database: Accident #1
| River: | Ouleout Cr. |
| Location: | Under bridge below E. Sydney Dam |
| Gauge: | 250--300 |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | II |
| Accident Code(s): | Foot Entrapment |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | C1 or C2 |
| Number of Occupants: | 2 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Summary: | Mr. Bernardin was paddling C-2M at the icebreaker Slalom, an annual event at this location. Their boat capsized in the upper part of the slalom course. His partner swam to shore, but Mr. Bernardin stayed with the canoe and was washed downstream. He was seen trying to get his footing, presumably so he could walk the canoe to shore. He washed over a 1-foot ledge below the bridge and vanished beneath a 2-foot wave. People could see that his body being held underwater. Racers immediately mobilized to offer assistance. Ropes were thrown, and several people jumped into the water and tried to grab him as they passed. A few minutes later a large group entered the water and tried to use their bodies to divert the water. Runners were sent to the dam to get the water turned off, and ultimately this was successful. When the water dropped rescuers were able to wade out to MR. Berardin. They noted that his foot was caught under a large flat rock sitting just below thge ledge. CPR was attempted unsuccessfully. This accident made us aware of the danger of foot entrapment for the first time. Charlie Walbridge |
| Conclusions: | This was the first reported foot entrapment and the first accident report Charlie Walbridge wrote for AW. It is the origin came the often-repeated warning not to stand up in fast-moving water |
| Report Status: | Completed |