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Accident Database: Accident #483

River: Etowah
Water Level: High
Difficulty: I
Accident Code(s): No PFD
Injury Code(s): Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal
Experienced/Inexperienced: Inexperienced
Private/Commercial: Private
Boat Type: Kayak - Unknown
Boat Model: Sit-On-Top
Number of Occupants: 1
Number in Group: 2
Number of Victims: 1
Initial Report: Two spring kayaking fatalities in Central Georgia involved inexperienced paddlers who were not wearing life vests. Scott Bristow forwarded an article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting that Kendall Bryant, a volunteer firefighter, drowned on the Etowah River March 1 while teaching his girlfriend to paddle. He flipped his sit on top and disappeared after several attempts to remount it. His girlfriend lost her paddle trying to rescue him, then continued to hand-paddle in an effort to help. She eventually became stranded on the far side of the river and needed rescue herself.
Detailed Description:

DESCRIPTION: Kendall Bryant was a 35-year-old volunteer firefighter with previous whitewater experience on the Nantahala River . On March 1, 1998 he drowned on the Etowah River while teaching his girlfriend to paddle. He reportedly flipped his sit-on-top kayak and disappeared after several attempts to remount it. His girlfriend lost her paddle trying to rescue him, then continued to hand-paddle her boat in an effort to help. She eventually became stranded on the far side of the river and needed rescue herself. Bystanders heard her screams and called 911. No PFD was used.

 

 

SOURCE: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

Conclusions:

ANALYSIS:

This accident would probably not have happened if the victim hasd been wearing a life vest.

Report Status: Completed