Parties Involved
Names of all individuals below rescuers and the individuals assisted are withheld.
Rescue party (reporting group):
● Three kayakers, all swift-water rescue trained and ACA certified instructors, on a first descent of this section at the low runnable level of the New River Dries.
● Two additional kayakers, encountered mid-rescue on the river, joined to assist, five rescue kayakers total by the end of the incident.
Individuals assisted:
● Individual 1: age 23. Sit-on-top kayak, PFD (not rated for whitewater), no helmet.
● Individual 2: age 19. Sit-on-top kayak, PFD (not rated for whitewater), no helmet, wearing swimwear with no footwear suitable for hiking.
● Both had capsized/swum out of their kayaks earlier the same day on this section, prior to being found.
Narrative
The three-person rescue party was on a first descent of the Dries section of the New River at a low, runnable water level on August 1. Both cars at the put-in and takeout belonged to the group, indicating no other river traffic on the section that day.
About two miles into the run, the group spotted an individual on a large boulder on river right, wearing a PFD but no helmet or shoes, waving both hands. The group signaled the standard “are you okay?” paddle-touch-head signal; the individual did not respond and continued waving. The group pulled off the river, secured their boats on the bank, and hiked down to assess the situation on foot before committing further on the water, in case the emergency was on land rather than in the river.
On scene, the group found two individuals, ages 23 and 19, who had both swum out of their sit-on-top kayaks on the same section earlier that day. Neither had whitewater-rated PFDs, and neither had a helmet; one was dressed only in swimwear with no footwear. Both acknowledged they were in over their heads, lacked appropriate equipment, and needed help. Of their two paddles, one had been lost and the other’s breakdown paddle had come apart into two pieces, leaving the pair with no usable paddles between them. The two did not have any whitewater experience, they were not familiar with the section of river and did not have an understanding of any of the river features such as the sandstone rocks that can create undercuts.
The rescue party spent roughly 45 minutes on scene (found around 5:30 PM, decision reached around 6:00 PM) evaluating options, including hiking the two individuals out. Hiking was ruled out: although a road runs near the river in this section, the bank is bordered by large cliff edges, and the individuals’ footwear and physical state made a safe hike-out infeasible. During this time, two additional kayakers passing on the river were flagged down to help, bringing the rescue party to five.
With sunset at approximately 8:30 PM, the group paired off one-to-one with each individual and worked them downstream side by side, rapid by rapid, for the remainder of the run. Techniques included directing them along easier lines, physically pushing their boats through or around features, ad hoc portaging of boats around hazards, and, where necessary, having the individuals swim a rapid under control while the rescuers managed their boats. Both individuals were young, mobile, and healthy, and were able to self-rescue readily in their sit-on-top kayaks when they did swim.
The group reached the New River Campground near the end of the run and reunited both individuals with their family. Both sustained only minor bumps, bruises, and cuts from swims and rapid strikes, and were reported to be in good health at the conclusion of the incident.
Contributing Factors
● Sit-on-top kayaks and non-whitewater-rated PFDs used on a Class III+ section.
● No helmets worn by either individual.
● Inadequate footwear/clothing (swimwear, no shoes) for the terrain, ruling out a hike-out option.
● Loss/failure of both paddles (one lost, one broken breakdown paddle), leaving the pair without propulsion.
● Remote section with cliff-bound banks and no other river traffic present, limiting rescue options until a passing group happened upon them.
● Limited daylight window (sunset ~8:30 PM) added time pressure to the rescue.
Reporting Notes
This report is submitted for inclusion in the American Whitewater Accident Database to document the hazards of this section for underequipped/inexperienced paddlers. All personal names are withheld;