Table: Whitewater Fatalities 1975-2005

By Charles Walbridge

WHITEWATER ACCIDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS Reported to American Whitewater 1975-2005
Year	Kayak & C-1	Open Canoe	Rafts (Com)(Priv)(I-K)			Other	Total
1975	1						1
1976							0
1977	1						1
1978	2						2
1979	1						1
1980	1						1
1981		1					1
1982	8	1					9
1983	2		2				4
1984	1	1					2
1985	3		1				4
1986	9		4				13
1987	3	2	2				7
1988	4	3	2				9
1989	6	3	3			1	13
1990	11	6	1				18
1991	4	1	2				7
1992	5	1	1				7
1993	4	2	1				7
1994	8	5	6	5	2		26
1995	10	5	10	16	1	1	38
1996	13	2	4	15		3	37
1997	20	5	2	4		1	32
1998	21	7	10	16	1	3	51
1999	15	5	3	11		4	38
2000	18	11	15	12	2	1	48
2001	20	9	1	13	2	2	37
2002	12	8	2	6	1	1	30
2003	20	15	2	6	1	8	58
2004	17	4	6	6	2	6	41
2005	10	6	7	12		3	38

NB: American Whitewater has never been able to track all moving water accidents. We do hear about most deaths involving experienced kayakers and think that our “kayak” numbers are pretty accurate.

The total number of whitewater paddlers was very small in the 70’s and AW’s accident reporting program was just getting started. The sport grew quickly towards the end of the decade then doubled three times in the 80’s and 90’s. We think increased participation accounts for much of the increase in accidents. The increase in the number of canoeing and rafting accidents reported to AW since 1994 is due mainly to the effectiveness of Internet-based reporting.

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, paddlesport deaths have not increased much since the mid-70’s. See Jennifer Plyler’s National accident Study for an explaination. Note that although the Coast Guard records are more complete than ours because states are required to report accidents to them, we have reports on some accidents they missed.

AW Accident Database Deaths By State 1975 – 2005
Alabama	8
Alaska	17
Arizona	9
Arkansas	5
California	79
Colorado	77
Connecticut	5
Delaware	0
DC	0
Florida	0
Georgia	18
Hawaii	0
Idaho	41
Illinois	6
Indiana	6
Iowa	1
Kansas	2
Kentucky	5
Louisiana	0
Maine	10
Maryland	10
Massachusetts	6
Michigan	7
Minnesota	3
Mississippi	0
Missouri	2
Montana	18
Nebraska	0
Nevada	2
New Hampshire	11
New Jersey	12
New Mexico	10
New York	32
North Carolina	22
North Dakota	0
Ohio	12
Oklahoma	0
Oregon	19
Pennsylvania	43
Rhode Island	1
South Carolina	6
South Dakota	0
Tennessee	27
Texas	10
Utah	15
Vermont	4
Virginia	14
Washington	42
West Virginia	51
Wisconsin	7

State Ranking For Reported Whitewater Accidents 1975 – 2005
1. California	79
2. Colorado	77
3. West Virginia	51
4. Pennsylvania	43
5. Washington	42
6. Idaho	41
7. New York	32
8. North Carolina	22
9. Montana	18
10.	18

States with large population centers near
whitewater rivers have the most paddling
activity, and the most accidents.

10 States

With No Reported

Whitewater Accidents

1975 – 2005

Delaware

Florida

Hawaii

Louisiana

Mississippi

Nebraska

North Dakota

Oklahoma

South Dakota

These are states with little or no
whitewater within their borders.