NPS.gov - Buffalo National River - News Release
June 7, 2021
Contact: Cassie Branstetter
St. Joe, Arkansas – On Saturday, June 5th, 2021Charles R. Harman, 61, from Overland Park, Kansas died of a possible cardiac event. At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, park rangers were notified of an unresponsive man in the Margaret White area of the river, located between the Woolum and Baker Ford river access points in the park’s Middle District. While floating with their family, Mr. Harman and his son turned over in their canoe, after which Mr. Harman was found unresponsive in the water. Family members and witnesses quickly moved Harman from the waterway and began CPR. Two National Park Service rangers arrived by boat approximately 40 minutes later, used an AED and administered three additional CPR cycles. Harman was loaded into a boat and floated to an ambulance crew waiting at a river access point. They determined that lifesaving efforts were not successful. Later, the county coroner stated that the probable cause of death was a cardiac event. Condolences go out to Mr. Harman’s family and friends.
Tim Sexton via FB - Today at 1:34 PM
I was there this weekend when the Kansas City man died. He was not wearing a PFD when he was pulled out of the water or earlier in the day when he had passed me on the river. There were a lot of people that stopped to help. At least 3 nurses were there to perform cpr on him for around 45 minutes until the rangers showed up. I am the one who talked to 911 dispatch. Feel free to ask any more questions you may have.
