Accident Database

Report ID#69133

1995-07-11
accident date
David Stroud
victim
49
victim age
Arkansas
river
06. Fisherman's Bridge access to Stone Bridge access
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
IV
river difficulty
Flush Drowning
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
High Water, One Boat Trip
factors
Private
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

1995 saw a record number of commercial outfitter fatalities on Colorado rivers. The four deaths, roughly one for every 130,000 guests, is the highest annual toll since the state began keeping records ten years ago. All were flush drownings caused in part by unusually high water levels. Including private paddlers, there were a total of 10 whitewater fatalities statewide. Only one of these involved a kayaker. On July 11 David Stroud, 49, died in Brown’s Canyon after a long swim. A Rec.Boats.Paddle posting reported that this was a one-boat trip. SOURCES: Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Boulder Daily Times, and Roger W. Lynn, CWWA Safety Chair