Accident Database

Report ID#65693

2000-09-07
accident date
Stewart Hill
victim
63
victim age
Youghiogheny
river
Lower
section
Dimple
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
III
river difficulty
Flush Drowning
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Inexperience
factors
Commercial
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

Dimple Rapid was the scene of three deaths during the 2000 season, making it the worst year on record for this popular Western Pennsylvania river. On September 7th Stewart Hill, 63, fell out of a raft at Dimple Rock. He floated the rest of the rapid, but was unresponsive to rescue efforts by guides. When they got him to shore, he was dead. Guides were baffled when this relatively mild swim had such a tragic result. CW