Fishermen locate the body of a missing canoer on Buffalo National River
Rescue teams are searching for a missing canoer on the Buffalo National River.(KY3)
By KY3 Staff
Published: May. 19, 2022
NEAR NORFORK, Ark. (KY3) - Two fishermen found the body of a missing canoer on the Buffalo National River. Search and rescue teams in Marion County say the victim is Brian Hanson, 56, of Rockford, Illinois.
Wednesday night near where the Buffalo National River meets the White River. Searchers say two canoers fell into the river near the Clabber Creek Shoal, southwest of Norfork. A second canoer survived by getting to the canoe and placing it upright.
Several agencies assisted in the search, including Buffalo Rangers, state and local law enforcement, and multiple fire departments.
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UPDATE:
Brian Hanson, 56, of Rockford, Illinois was reported missing Monday after his canoe capsized at Clabber Creek Shoals, downriver from the Rush access, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
Multiple agencies were involving in trying to locate the man including several sheriff's offices and fire departments plus the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas State Police, Mennonite Disaster Service and Christian Aid Ministries.
The body was found late Wednesday in the Buffalo National River near the confluence with the White River.
From Cowper Chadborn: Ihave a short video clip that shows most of the rapid. The only thing you can't see here is that it is a right turn as you enter from the pool, followed immediately by a wide sweeping turn back to the left. You can of course see the smooth water on the inside of the bend, but the less experienced folks are invariably swept back toward the center where there haystacks are, even if they have been warned to stay left
The closest USGS gage, Buffalo at Harriet. It is 13.6 miles upstream of the accident site. Typically, from watching past floods, the rising water moves downstream at 2.5 to 3 mph on this section of the river. I'm not 100% sure on time of accident, but I believe it was 9 or 10 AM. That puts levels at 5.4 to 5.9 feet, or 2100 to 2900 cfs at the time of the accident. Peak waves occur at about 7 feet or 4000 cfs. So while not at their greatest size, they would have been significant to the less experienced in a loaded canoe.<As you can see from the photos, there are a few willows in the current at the rapid run-out, but, those do not seem to really play a big role in most upsets. There is little doubt in my mind the man would have survived had he simply been wearing his PFD. Water temps are likely in 60's. Body was found about River mile 152, which is one mile from Junction with White River. That's 22 miles downstream of the accident site, and suggests that the body must have floated within 24 to 36 hours of when it went into the water.
