Accident Database: Accident #491
| River: | American, S. Fk. |
| Section: | Chili bar |
| Location: | Meat Grinder |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | IV |
| Accident Code(s): | L.S., Hypothermia |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 48 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Raft |
| Number of Occupants: | 3 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Initial Report: | California, which has experienced both a heavy snowpack and a cool spring, is in for a prolonged period of extremely high water. Already eleven rafting fatalities have been reported; two involved a mother and child on an air mattress, but the rest are for real! Three occurred within a few days of each other on the South Fork of the American near Lotus, California. A popular Class III+ summer run at 1200-1600 cfs, at 6,000-8,000 cfs the river becomes very continuous and turbulent. At this point it should be considered heavy class IV-IV+. Most of this information was reported by AW Director and Friends of the River conservationist Richard Penny.
On June 17 Robert Wheat, 48, drowned when his raft flipped on the South Fork of the American in Meatgrinder Rapid. A heavy man, 300+ pounds, he was boating without a wetsuit. Meatgrinder is very nasty at this level: over a mile long, with huge waves and holes. Rescue, which must have been very difficult, was made by professional guides running trips in the area. |
| Detailed Description: | On June 17 Robert Wheat, 44, drowned when his raft flipped on the South Fork of the American in Meatgrinder Rapid. A heavy man, 300+ pounds, he was boating in a one-boat trip without a wetsuit. This rapid is nasty at a high level. It’s over a mile long, filled with huge waves and holes. Their boat apparently got off-line and flipped after going over a ledge. Rescue, which must have been very difficult, was made by professional guides running trips in the area. His body was finally located two miles downstream
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| Report Status: | Completed |