On April 15, 1998 Sgt. Karl Kelly, an Indiana conservation officer with 28 years of experience, died during a swiftwater rescue training exercise at the Williams Dam on the White River. The river, near Bedford, IN , was running extremely high due to recent rains. Kelly’s team was practicing a two-boat tether, a dam rescue technique. While attempting to recover the practice “victim", a floating throw bag, the lead boat stalled and swamped in the backwash and spilled the occupants overboard. Kelly was in the downstream, or backup, boat. After attempting to pull the lead boat clear of the hydraulic, he moved his motor-powered raft upstream, between the swamped boat and the dam, to attempt a throw-line rescue. The boat swamped, throwing Kelly into the water. He recirculated for some time in the hydraulic. Safety boats picked up everyone else quickly, but could not reach Kelly for some time. Once he was washed out, he was quickly recovered downstream. CPR was administered, and they did get a pulse back. Despite this, he died in the hospital two days later. Two other officers involved in the drill were also hospitalized.

SOURCE: International Game Warden Magazine via NY Conservation Officer Ben Bramledge

ANALYSIS: (Walbridge) Sgt. Kelly’s action’s, though courageous, was foolhardy. Dam backwashes are dangerous, and he whole aim of the two-boat tether is to keep rescuers clear of it. His actions were contrary to his training, and paid a fearful price.