Accident Database

Report ID#65681

2003-07-04
accident date
Hoyt Boyzart
victim
52
victim age
French Broad
river
n/a
section
Ledge Park
location
8000 cfs
gage
High
water level
II
river difficulty
Swim into Rock or Sieve
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
One Boat Trip
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

On July 4th the French Broad River near Asheville, NC was running at a high and muddy 8,000 cfs. Heyward Bozart, 52, was camping nearby with his 22 year-old son. They decided to canoe the Class II rapids near Ledge Park. Their boat capsized quickly and the pair was washed away. Mr. Bozart was found dead roughly four miles downstream; his son made it to a small island and was brought to safety by rescue squads.