Accident Database

Report ID#69609

2004-08-15
accident date
Fred Stewart
victim
24
victim age
Neversink
river
1. Rock Hill to Oakland Valley
section
Old Falls in Fallsburg
location
900-1400 cfs
gage
High
water level
IV
river difficulty
Swim into Rock or Sieve
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
High Water
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

High water on the Neversink River proved deadly for Fred Stewart, 24, on August 15, 2004. Stewart flipped in rapids near Old Falls and was sucked into a pin between two rocks. His friend paddled up but couldn’t budge him. After local officers arrived on the scene, it took 10 minutes for them to extricate him. CPR was unsuccessful; he was pronounced dead at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. Gauge reading is from the daily averages for the 14th and 15th (http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/discharge/?site_no=01436690&agency_cd=USGS); it is unknown exactly what the gauge was reading when Stewart and his friend were running the Gorge. http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2004/08/16/vwdrown.htm