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Accident Database: Accident #426
| River: | Hudson |
| Section: | Upper Hudson |
| Location: | Harris Rift |
| Gauge: | 4.2' |
| Water Level: | Low |
| Difficulty: | III |
| Accident Code(s): | Foot Entrapment |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Inexperienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Commercial |
| Boat Type: | Raft |
| Number of Occupants: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Summary: | On June 26, 1996, Peter Duffy, 44, died on a commercial rafting trip on the
Upper Hudson River
near
North Creek, NY
. This was the last weekend of the spring rafting season; the
Hudson
was running at 4.2 feet, a low level that made the run mostly Class III. Duffy's raft went over a small pourover in Harris Rift, the last major rapid, and he fell into the river. Facing upstream, he attempted to stand, caught his right foot between two rocks, and was pushed under. His life jacket was stripped off, and he was trapped under 3 feet of water. It took the guides 2 1/2 hours to recover his body.
SOURCE: Richard Morse;
Adirondack
Post-Star |
| Detailed Description: | ANALYSIS: (Walbridge) Foot entrapment rescues are very difficult. You might as well step in front of a speeding car as get your foot caught in a fast moving river. The victim was warned, but failed to follow instructions |
| Report Status: | Completed |
