Accident Database

Report ID#64835

2024-03-03
accident date
Stephanie Rolader
victim
n/a
victim age
Chattahochee
river
n/a
section
Section 3
location
3'
gage
High
water level
II+
river difficulty
Caught in a Natural Hydraulic
cause code(s)
Near Drowning
injury type(s)
Solo Paddling
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

There was a near drowning on the Upper Chattahoochee (section III) on March 3rd. Stephanie Rolader had run this Class II+ section at least 20 times at different levels (typically at around 2 feet) in sit-on-tops and white water boats, but that day was in a duckie. Here’s her account: “It was running at about 3 feet when I went over third ledge, and was caught in a hole which I’ve gone over/through many many times. I ended up a little bit sideways and flipped my ducky, which only stayed in the hole for a couple of seconds, but I was caught in the hole for almost 3 minutes recirculating and could not get myself out. ” “I was finally rescued by a passing boater who pulled me out from inside of his boat. I was what the EMTs considered a level to drowning and had water in my lungs and the first stages of hypothermia, I spent the night in the ER receiving breathing treatments.” Local paddlers say that the hole is backed by a rock, making it very retentive at certain flows.