Accident Database

Report ID#68443

2018-08-05
accident date
Unidentified Woman
victim
67
victim age
Lehigh
river
3. Glen Onoko to Bowmanstown
section
Bowmanstown Rapid
location
n/a
gage
n/a
water level
I
river difficulty
Health Problem
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Other
factors
Commercial
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

On August 5th a 67 year old woman and her husband were rafting the Lehigh River below Jim Thorpe, PA when they fell into the water from a pinned raft. They yelled for help. A lifeguard who was a guest on this trip (in a neighboring boat) also fell out of his raft but swam to the couple. The tripleader, who was also the safety boater, reached the pair seconds in a whitewater kayak. Together they floated through the dissipating wave train of Class I Bowmanstown Rapid, and within 30 seconds were in fast-moving Flat water. Witnesses say she was not underwater after falling out of the raft. She may have taken a little water, but she was very vocal the entire way. She was panicking, and fighting her husband and the lifeguard. The four of them were pushed towards the takeout eddy by the safety kayaker and floated into the calm waters of the eddy. About 15 feet from shore, she lost consciousness. She was quickly taken to the neighboring shoreline. She had a pulse but was not breathing. Rescue breathing followed, then at the next pulse check guides determined that the pulse had faded. 911 was called by a truck crew member from another company as they floated into the eddy, so professional EMS was on scene in the single-digit minute range. Guides did full CPR on her until the ambulance crew arrived and took over.