Accident Database: Accident #509
| River: | Tuolumne |
| Location: | Grey's Grindstone |
| Water Level: | High |
| Difficulty: | IV |
| Accident Code(s): | Long Swim (L.S.) |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Private/Commercial: | Commercial |
| 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 8 Greg Malley, a commercial rafting guide running an oar boat, drowned after a flip at the top of Grey's Grindstone on the Tuolumne River. It was his 85th commercial trip. Dan and Adam Diamont reported to Rec.Boats.Paddle that the river was flowing at 9,000 cfs, which is very high. Two guests were pulled in quickly, the guide's body was recovered further downstream. Here was blood on his head indicating a possible injury. CPR began at once and a helicopter was called |
| Detailed Description: | On June 8 Greg Malley, 33, a commercial raft guide, drowned after a flip at the top of Grey's Grindstone on the
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| Report Status: | Completed |