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Report ID# 115132

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ncident report: FB9 8/14/21

Tony, Anthony de la Torre DOB 2/21/1954

Yesterday we lost a boater on FB9. Every attempt was made to save him. He had swam at S Turn Rapid twice self rescuing on the right line and spent some time in the bottom hole that appeared to be a controlled attempt to get his boat out. He got back in his boat and as far as I know he did not mention any problems to anyone. Please add if there were. We had a large group of eleven so spread out, but in sight of each other. After Pillow Rapid there is an easy rapid called Swimmers. 

1:55 EST He paddled through it then according to the two people near him mumbled, tossed his paddle then fell over upside down. They assumed he passed out and quickly went to him. Out of his boat they held his head above water while others pushed them to shore where we started CPR. One individual, a retired paramedic said he had slow respirations at this point.

Here is the account from David Bell who did the hand of God to get him upright.

“Garland and I were on opposite sides of Tony and Ruth was behind us.  We saw Tony sort of toss his paddle and then flip over.  I thought he was doing a hand roll at first  but after several seconds realized he had not made movement.  I reached him and performed a hand of god on him to flip him over.  I grabbed him by his PFD shoulder strap and shorty dry top.  I had to grab hold of his helmet  and strap to hold his head above water.  His  spray skirt had come loose and he was partially out of his boat.  Ruth came up and pulled his boat off which allowed the other boater to come up and help hold him up from the other side.  We eventually had another boater attach his tow tether to the other boat and with the help of people pushing my boat from behind got him to shore.  Ruth said just after I had flipped him up, he moaned and gasped.  I know for a short time there was a very spaced out exhalation with some foaming.  I didn't note any of these by the time we got him to shore.” 

2:00 EST Call to 911 and CPR with rescue breaths started.

Several people called 911 immediately. The phone call time helped document the start of CPR. Rescue breaths in addition to chest compressions were provided. The closest extrication point was Sandy Bottoms. Some rafters were called over to help. They had a cooler that I recommended we turn on its side to provide a hard surface for CPR. He was transferred to the raft where CPR was continued as we paddled down to Sandy Bottoms where he was moved onto the sandy shore. CPR was continued. 

2:35 EST A paramedic boater arrived who had a trauma kit that provided a mouth shield, but we had been providing breaths as well as compressions already. Thirty minutes had passed when the paramedics arrived. They took over and we provided assistance as needed with automated chest compression device, intraosseous access for meds, and defibrillator. He appeared to have v fib and was shocked twice I believe. He was transported to the ambulance.

He had a catastrophic event, probably a heart attack that lead to him turning over in flat water. Our group of eleven did a good job in a very difficult situation. I wish the outcome had been different. Thanks to everyone for trying to save him. 

(His son confirmed a long history of heart disease with multiple surgeries the next day.)

Time of death called 30 minutes after paramedics arrived with ambulance.

 

Note on FB from his son: This is Tony’s son, Martin-

“My Dad died Saturday, August 14th shortly before 2pm. He was kayaking with his friends on section 9 of the French Broad when he had a heart attack and could not be revived. 

First and foremost my mother and I are eternally grateful for the people around my dad who did everything in their power to try to revive and evacuate him in a timely manner.  I’d like to make it clear that my Dad suffered from heart problems his entire adult life; he had survived a previous heart attacks and several surgeries to address these issues. He took excellent care of himself and was actively kayaking and mountain biking. This was not something that anyone could have prevented or been prepared for but I am extremely lucky and thankful that my dad raised me in a way that equipped me to handle situations like this. Reading dozens of people share fond memories of my dad on the river makes me certain that there is no other way he would’ve wanted to go.”

 

Note from Mark Denty regarding swim at S Turn: “Just read your incident report.  Thanks for your efforts towards that. Tony had a swim right above S-Turn as well.  He self rescued and got his boat to the eddy in the middle of the river that many stop in before running s-turn.  I was there in the eddy and someone mentioned to him that he didn’t get all of the water out of his boat but Tony said he wanted get to a calmer spot and the finish the job.  I held his boat while he got back in. He proceeded in the line far right of s-turn and before he got out of sight I saw him flip over again. I blew 3 shorts bursts on my whistle to let others know that he needed help.  So it appears that he swam twice and both times emptied out his own boat.”

 

Antonio Samuel de la Torre « Shuler Funeral Home 8/19/21, 11(50 AM 

Antonio Samuel de la Torre 

February 21, 1954 - August 14, 2021 

Antonio Samuel de la Torre, 67, died Saturday, August 14, 2021, on the French Broad River in Madison County, North Carolina. Born in El Paso, Texas on February 21, 1954, to the late Jose Maria de la Torre and Maria Luisa Avila. 

In 1981, Tony was honorably discharged from the USS Belknap as a Petty Officer First Class. Later that year, he joined RCA and advanced to a Senior Member of the engineering staff at Lockheed Martin, where he retired after thirty years of service. He was proud of his work as an analog engineer supporting the AEGIS combat system and volunteered his time at local school programs teaching science and electricity. In 1988, Tony received a B.S.E.E from Drexel University. 

After raising his family in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Tony retired to Asheville, North Carolina to pursue 

his passion for the outdoors. He was a beloved member of the local whitewater kayaking community and regularly volunteered his time with Team River Runner to share kayaking with wounded veterans. Tony’s kind, welcoming smile will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Left to cherish Tony’s memory is his beloved wife of forty-one years, Andrea; their two sons Alex de la Torre of King, North Carolina, and Martin de la Torre of Asheville, North Carolina; and his sister Angelina Delgado of El Paso, Texas. 

His family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to those around Tony at the time of the incident who did everything in their power to try and revive and evacuate him in a timely manner, and to the responding paramedics from the Walnut Fire Company. Memorial donations in Tony’s name can be made to Team River Runner, 5007 Stone Road, Rockville, MD, 20853, or online memorials In Loving Memory of Antonio Samuel del la Torre. 

 

https://www.shulerfuneralhome.com/obituary/antonio-samuel-de-la-...d=IwAR1kWC1bkvjHLdKl25KwJEZjZ-hzLxzYuLbN0AreEIWwZSP4ziqYun29V00 Page 1 of 1 

 

 

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Incident report: FB9 8/14/21

Yesterday we lost a boater on the French Broad, Section 9. Every attempt was made to save him. He had swam at S Turn Rapid on the right line and spent some time in the bottom hole that appeared to be a controlled attempt to get his boat out. Another boater helped get him to shore where he emptied his own boat. He got back in his boat and as far as I know he did not mention any problems to anyone.

We had a large group of eleven so spread out, but in sight of each other. After Pillow Rapid there is an easy rapid called Swimmers. He paddled through it then according to the two people near him mumbled, tossed his paddle then fell over upside down. They assumed he passed out and quickly went to him. Out of his boat they held his head above water while others pushed them to shore where we started CPR. Several people called 911.

The closest extrication point was Sandy Bottoms. Some rafters were called over to help. They had a cooler that I recommended we turn on its side to provide a hard surface for CPR. He was transferred to the raft where CPR was continued as we paddled down to Sandy Bottoms where he was moved onto the sandy shore. CPR was continued. A paramedic boater arrived who had a trauma kit that provided a mouth shield, but we had been providing breaths as well as compressions already.

Thirty minutes had passed when the paramedics arrived. They took over and we provided assistance as needed. He had a catastrophic event, probably a heart attack that lead to him turning over in flat water. Our group of eleven did a good job in a very difficult situation. I wish the outcome had been different. Thanks to everyone who made every effort to save him.

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