Accident Database

Report ID#66939

2018-05-26
accident date
Unidentified Man
victim
78
victim age
John Day
river
3. Clarno to Cottonwood
section
Approx. 6 miles downstream from Clarno
location
~5,000 cfs
gage
n/a
water level
III
river difficulty
Health Problem
cause code(s)
Heart Attack / Heart Failure
injury type(s)
Cold Water
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

4 men on an 18′ cataraft, experienced boatman. In a riffle, they bumped a rock. The victim lost his balance and fell into the river. He was wearing a fastened life jacket, but it quickly slipped off. While the raft remained lodged on the submerged rock the victim floated quickly downstream. He was last seen swimming downstream instead of toward shore. He was face down when the raft caught up. CPR failed to revive the victim. Authorities determined that he probably died of heart failure, not drowning. The water was not unreasonably cold.