FAMILY OUTING ENDS IN TRAGEDY

Lehigh River near White Haven, PA: March 12, 1995

Gradient 24 fpm; Level 800 cfs; Classification II-III

DESCRIPTION: The Lehigh River is a popular intermediate run for paddlers from New York to Philadelphia . It's delightful class II-III rapids offering plenty of playing in a wild setting. An extended family, probably of Asian descent, purchased some cheap vinyl rafts and a few "horse-collar" PFD's before arriving at White Haven to run the river. The water Temperature was 34°; the air temperature was 50°. Kayakers attempted to warn the group, but they did not respond. Some of the paddlers felt that the rafters did not speak English well and could not understand what they were being told. The rafts flipped within 200 yards of the put-in. The combined efforts of all the boaters present resulted in the rescue of seven of the nine passengers, but two were lost. One of those recovered was only two years old!

The dam was throttled back and a search began involving helicopters, dogs, raft guides, and white water paddlers. After two days the bodies of two kids, aged 12 and 14, were pulled out of the river at Tannery, one mile downstream.

SOURCES: Rich Kulawiec posting to Rec.Boats.Paddle; The Philadelphia Inquirer

ANALYSIS: A horrible disaster brought about by cold water, inadequate equipment, overloaded boats, inexperience, poor judgement, and a total inability to accept advice. Had there not been a number of experienced paddlers present there would have been many more deaths.