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Accident Database: Accident #466

River: Little
Section: Lower Canyon
Water Level: Low
Difficulty: III
Accident Code(s): Vertical Pin
Injury Code(s): Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal
Age: 26
Experienced/Inexperienced: Experienced
Years Paddling: 1-3
Private/Commercial: Private
Boat Type: Kayak - Unknown
Number of Occupants: 1
Number in Group: 1
Number of Victims: 1
Initial Report: More information is now available on the December 22, 1997 drowning of Jonathan Harris on the Little River Canyon in Alabama. According to an AW member who talked with rangers. Harris was apparently boating alone and not using a sprayskirt on his kayak. The accident occurred on the Chairlift Section at very low flows. Friends had accompanied him along the bank to take pictures but they had no rescue gear. After he pinned on an undercut rock at Eddy Hop; his friends tried for 30 minutes to save him but were unsuccessful.
Detailed Description:

On December 22, 1997 Jonathan Harris, 26, was running Northern Alabama ’s Lower Little River Canyon (the Chairlift Section) at very low water. He had been paddling for 1½ years and was boating alone, without a sprayskirt. Two of his students followed along the bank to take pictures, but carried no rescue gear.

 

 

At Eddy Hop Rapid (Class III) Harris missed his line on a 2 foot high side chute and pinned on an undercut rock. He flipped, and was held under water. His friends tried for 30 minutes to save him but were unsuccessful. They sent for help. Rescue teams worked late into the night to haul his body over 1000 feet of nearly vertical slopes.

 

 

SOURCE: NPS Morning Report, Renee Clark, and Billy Johnson.

 

 

Conclusions:

ANALYSIS:

 

 

1. (Walbridge) Although Harris was not technically alone, it should be noted that it would be better for him to be accompanied by other paddlers. They might have had the skills to rescue him.

 

 

2. ( Clark ) Even at low levels,  rivers the like Little River should not be run by kayakers without a sprayskirt. It is possible that he took on water above the drop, resulting in a loss of boat control which caused the pin. In addition, water in the boat almost certainly complicated rescue attempts.

 

Report Status: Completed