The East Fork of the South Fork near Yellow Pine, Idaho is a steep and difficult run. Grant Amaral's guidebook, " Idaho the Whitewater State " describes the East Fork as Class V+ when flowing above 1500 cfs. The river was flowing more than 2400 cfs on Monday, making the drops extremely turbulent and unforgiving.

Bert Ole Funk, 29, had learned to kayak in Colorado five years earlier. He had been boating with six other paddlers on rivers like the Little Salmon and Main Salmon prior to the accident, and had performed well. Although others in the group had successfully run the East Fork at higher flows the previous day, this was Funk's first attempt.

On May 31, 1999 Funk’s group stopped in an eddy above a mile-long Class V+ rapid called "Flight Simulator." Funk flipped while attempting to enter the eddy. He rolled and attempted to catch another eddy downstream, but missed it also. He washed backwards into a large hole that held him and his kayak for some time. When he washed free, he could not roll up afterward and was forced to swim. He flushed downstream and was battered by a series of big pourovers.

As one of his friends attempted to catch Funk without success, others tried to reach him from shore with throw ropes. Funk was still conscious, making eye contact with people on shore, but he could not grab the ropes. Another kayaker pulled him to shore by near Reegan Creek, two miles downstream. He was given CPR for 45 minutes before a Valley County Sheriff's Deputy pronounced him dead.

SOURCE: An article in the McCall Star-News by Roger Phillips quoting Jeff Loy, one of the kayakers in the party, and Deputy Sheriff Dave McClintock

ANALYSIS: (Walbridge)

1. In Class V whitewater, swimming is dangerous and rescue is extremely difficult. This is a clear case of flush drowning in water so turbulent that even a life vest and helmet can’t offer full protection to a swimmer. Funk died despite the efforts of many people to help him. His boat was a relatively low-volume kayak only eight feet, four inches long. Only strong boaters can handle a small playboat in hard rapids!

2. Funk was wearing a good life vest and a Kevlar helmet. There were gouges in the helmet, possibly from rock hits, and a "dime-sized" chip in the back. It is possible that he became stunned at some point in his swim, which might explain his inability to grab throw lines or self rescue.