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Accident Database: Accident #405
| River: | Robinson Cr. |
| Location: | Dam |
| Water Level: | Medium |
| Accident Code(s): | Bad Hydraulic |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 20 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Inexperienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Commercial |
| Boat Type: | Open Canoe |
| Number of Occupants: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 2 |
| Detailed Description: | TWO
WISCONSIN
CANOEISTS DROWN AT FALLS
DESCRIPTION: On Saturday August 19, 1995 a three-canoe party reached
Poly
Falls
, a five-foot drop on
Robinson
Creek
near
Black River Falls, Wisconsin
. Two canoes made it to shore, but one tipped over above the falls. The 20-year-old woman paddling the boat became caught in a large hole at the base of the drop. Her father, 49, who was not wearing a life vest, dove in after her and also became trapped. She eventually came out of the hole; he did not. Searchers for the two bodies were hampered by high flows caused by recent rains.
SOURCE: Paul Wagner posting to Rec.Boats.Paddle
|
| Conclusions: | ANALYSIS: A combination of high water and inexperience caused the accident. The second victim violated a cardinal rule of rescue: never compound the problem by becoming a victim yourself. All of us must consider the risks before we act.
|
| Report Status: | Completed |
