Accident Database

Report ID#63912

2012-06-22
accident date
Colin Buness
victim
25
victim age
Katete River
river
n/a
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
N/A
river difficulty
Flush Drowning
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Cold Water, High Water, Solo Paddling, One Boat Trip
factors
Private
trip type
Packraft
boat type
status?
status

Description

Colin Buness (25) disappeared on a solo (I think) trip to the Katate, a tributary to the Stikine. Colin had considerable experience, including actively training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper (PJ). Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. “We found his foot tracks in a gravel bar where we believe he had pulled in and looked downriver,” Tim said. “We think he was scouting out the canyon and everything looked good to him, but he couldn’t see around the corner of that bend, which is where we feel that he went into the water.” https://thingstolucat.com/2019/08/15/packraft-fatalities/ https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/story/2012/07/05/news/search-for-colin-buness-ends-along-katete-river/343.html