| River: | Carmel |
| Section: | Los Padres Reservoir to Carmel Valley |
| Difficulty: | III |
| Accident Code(s): | Tree Pin |
| Injury Code(s): | Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal, Fatal |
| Age: | 53 |
| Experienced/Inexperienced: | Experienced |
| Years Paddling: | >10 |
| Private/Commercial: | Private |
| Boat Type: | Kayak - Unknown |
| Number of Occupants: | 1 |
| Number of Victims: | 1 |
| Hazard Codes: | Natural Strainer or Sieve |
| Summary: | On February 19th David Pennell, 53, washed into a strainer on a sharp bend on California’s Carmel River. This small Class III creek runs only a few days per year. It’s very fast and tricky, with many sharp bends and strainers. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Mr. Pennell’s boat flipped, trapping him inside. Minutes later the boat broke loose with Mr. Pennell still caught inside his boat. Friends caught up with the boat, pulled him ashore, and performed CPR without success. Later a friend noted that Mr. Pennell had been experiencing some health problems, which may have affected his balance. |
| Link: | http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/February/22/local/stories/02local.htm |
| Report Status: | Incomplete |
