Accident Database

Report ID#64010

2014-04-17
accident date
Unidentified Man
victim
35
victim age
Cheoah
river
Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake Boat Launch
section
Bear Creek Falls
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
V
river difficulty
Vertical Pin
cause code(s)
Spinal Injury
injury type(s)
Other
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

An unidentified man in his mid thirties ran the Boof line at Bear Creek falls but went much too far left. He dropped off close to where the rock dries out. He penciled and landed on nearly dry rock, a very hard hit. He was clearly in pain but remained in his boat. He ferried to river right and, with help, exited his boat. He walked up the bank with assistance from two other paddlers. He was laid on his side by the side of the road, then turned onto his back a few minutes later. He was taken to Murphy medical center in Murphy, NC. From there he was taken to Mission hospital in Asheville where he was found to have a broken vertibrae and needed surgery.

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