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Accident Database: Accident #34
| River: | Swan |
| Section: | Bigfork Dam to Flathead R. |
| Water Level: | Medium |
| Difficulty: | IV |
| Accident Code(s): | Solo: Pin & Tree |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 40 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Years Paddling: | >10 |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | C1 or C2 |
| Number of Occupants: | 1 |
| Number in Group: | 1 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Detailed Description: | Dr. Donna Berglund was one of the most skilled femake kayakers of her era. She was a very experienced river runner, a member of the U.S. Wildwater Team, and very fit. The Swan River where she died is very continuous, with few eddies. Donna was in the area training for a race. After making an afternoon practice run she wanted to take another. Finding no takers, she characteristically elected to go alone. We think she spun out on a midstream boulder and pinned heads up against a submerged log. She was found by the first racers on the river the next day. The pin was not severe, and her kayak was easily released. She probably died from hypothermia. |
| Conclusions: | No single incident demostrates the dangers of solo paddling as well as this one. She could have been rescued easily by another person. And sadly, she probably had lots of time to contemplate her fate. |
| Report Status: | Completed |
