Accident Database: Accident #882
| River: | Russell Fork |
| Section: | Gorge Section:Garden Hole Road (Breaks Park) to KY takeout |
| Location: | Triple Drop |
| Difficulty: | V |
| Accident Code(s): | Head Injury |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 66 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Years Paddling: | >10 |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Kayak - Unknown |
| Number of Occupants: | 1 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Hazard Codes: | Rocks that cause blunt trauma |
| Initial Report: | http://tinyurl.com/dsy65 http://gotricities.com/content/article.dna?idNumber=041123094241 |
| Summary: | John Heffernan, 66, was running the Russell Fork Gorge with a group of friends on October 24, 2004. He had run the Russell Fork dozens of times and knew the river well. At the first ledge of Triple Drop Rapid, he flipped, missed a roll attempt, and apparently hit his head. His companions got to him below the rapid and performed CPR without success. |
| Link: | http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/692770 |
| Report Status: | Incomplete |