Accident Database: Accident #2129
| River: | East Branch of the Saco |
| Section: | |
| Location: | Town Hall Road Bridge |
| Gauge: | over 4' |
| Water Level: | Flood |
| Difficulty: | IV |
| Accident Code(s): | Long Swim (L.S.) |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal |
| Age: | 36 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Years Paddling: | >10 |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Kayak - Creek Boat |
| Boat Manufacturer: | Perception |
| Boat Model: | Phat |
| Number of Occupants: | 1 |
| Number in Group: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Other Victim Names: | |
| Hazard Codes: | Water Temp, High Water |
| Initial Report: | CARROLL COUNTY INDEPENDENT Thursday November 2, 2006 Kayaker Drowns - Conway Man was a Teacher at Kennett On Saturday, October 28th a 36 year-old Conway man, Clifford L. Eisner, drowned while kayaking with two male companions in the East Branch Riber in Bartlett. At approximately 4:55 PM Eisner rolled over in his kayak and was unable to right himself. According to witnesses Eisner separated from his kayak and struggled towards shore, however he was overcome by the force of the river. At that time, river conditions were very high and fast and contained a lot of debris due to heavy rains recieved throughout the state on Saturday. Eisner's body was recovered six miles downstreamin the Saco River behind the North Conway Fire Department. Eisner was an experienced kayaker and was wearing a flotation device at the time of the accident. Local weather observer Briggs Bunker of North Conway reported thar a total of 3.73 inces of rain fell from Friday Evening, October 27 throgh Sunday Evening, October 29th. The river stage in North Conway rose from 3.8 on saturday morning to 11.9 by 3 AM sunday. The flow of the river inbvreased from 900 cfs to 24000 cfs during this time. |
| Summary: | Posted: Mon Oct 30 2006, 10:32AM From the Conway Daily Sun: Oct 30, 9:22 AM EST N.H. teacher dies in kayak accident CONWAY, N.H. (AP) -- A math teacher at Kennett High School died during the weekend when his kayak capsized in the Saco River. Authorities said Cliff Eisner, 36, was in his first year at the school, where he taught geometry and precalculus. He formerly taught at John Stark Regional High School in Weare. Counselors were ready to help grieving students and teachers at the school Monday. The Saco in Conway gage rose quickly on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 900 cfs to over 20,000, above flood stage. Likely, the section that Mr. Eisner was attempting was above flood stage when he was on it on Saturday. From the Manchester Union Leader: Storm causes chaos across Granite State From Staff and Wire Reports Two deaths were reported over a weekend of wild, windy weather that stripped trees bare, knocked out power to thousands and rendered waterways across the state dangerously choppy. Cliff Eisner, 36, a teacher at Kennett High School in Conway, died Saturday after his kayak capsized in the Saco River. Eisner, new to the district this year, taught geometry and pre-calculus. He previously taught at John Stark Regional High School in Weare, according to meeting records from that district. Conway school officials met yesterday afternoon at the high school with the district’s crisis team in preparation for grieving staff and students, said Carl Nelson, district superintendent. Also from http://www.npmb.com/cms2/forum_viewtopic.php?4.56411: The storm also turned deadly on Saturday. New Hampshire Fish and Game also reported a 36-year-old kayaker was killed while on a river in Jackson. The body of the man was later found in North Conway. The death remains under investigation. |
| Detailed Description: | Concord Monitor.com 10-28-06 CONWAY, NH Teacher dies in kayaking accident www.copncordmonitor.com (10-31-06) A newly wed high school math teacher and enthusiastic outdoorsman died Sat. (10-28) when his kayak capsized in the Saco River in Conway. Cliff Eisner, 36, taught for 11 years at John Stark Regional High School in Weare. After spending nearly a year in Alaska, Eisner, who grew up in Henniker, took a job last month at Kennett High School in Conway. Part of the job's allure, friends and family said, was the location; Eisner loved being close to mountains and rivers for hiking, biking and kayaking. On Sat., Eisner went kayaking with 2 other men, according to Sgt. Jim Juneau of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Heavy rains had caused the state's rivers to swell, and the Saco was raging. At 4:55 p.m., Eisner capsized. Though he was not able to right himself he managed to get out of his kayak and tried to swim to shore. But Eisner, an experienced kayaker who was wearing a life vest, was overcome by the river, which was high, fast and full of debris, including entire trees that had toppled off the banks. More than 50 rescue workers searched the waters for Eisner. They found his body in the Saco River behind the North Conway Fire Department an hour later, 6 mi. from where he'd capsized. Eisner died 1 wk. after he married his wife, Marilyn (Carignan) Eisner. Both avid hikers with humble personalities, the couple had a casual ceremony at the base of Mount Cardigan attended by 60 people. They spent their wedding night sleeping underneath the stars. http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061031/REPOSITORY/610310355 |
| Conclusions: | |
| Report Status: | On Going |