On July 20, 2024, I was the water rescue team lead for a water rescue involving 3 parties. The following is an objective description of the incident followed by expert opinion regarding root cause and factors leading to the end result of a one fatality.
I have not included a detailed account or timeline of rescue team actions, as these are not applicable to this accident report.
I am submitting this report due to the lack of any meaningful river/water specific accident reporting or databases in Canada, and I feel this is an example of an incident containing data that should be collected for educational and reporting purposes.
Background:
On July 20, 2024, 3 males, all known to each other and from central Alberta, began a kayak trip on Clearwater River, in Clearwater County, Alberta. The party put in somewhere off the Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 734) upstream of incident. It was understood by rescue party that the intent was for a day trip, paddling downstream to Cutoff Creek Road (approx 20 km trip) and return to their campsite set up in that area.
Party's Equipment and Experience:
The party was equipped for a day trip, and did not have overnight gear or supplies. Party was equipped with 3 identical versions of 16-17' solo Delta sea kayaks. All three used "greenland" style kayak paddles. PPE included type III PFDs and paddling jackets (splash jackets). No helmets. No wetsuit or drysuits by any of the party. Party wore several other gear items externally affixed to PFDs such as molle pouches, GPS devices, and knives.
Surviving party members claim extensive river experience in general and 4 previous trips on this section of river in previous years. It was not determined what, if any, moving water safety training or rescue skills they had. It was not determined what type of boats and gear they typically use on river trips. It was not determined if they have had serious incidents or near misses in the past. Surviving party did express great surprise at the change in this river's water level as opposed to same time last year when they paddled it, and they expressed surprise at all the wood hazards present, which apparently were not present the previous year.
River Description:
Clearwater River, in this reach, is a low volume, gravel to large rock bed, clean/clear, cold, meandering mountain stream. Average width of channel is 30 feet. There are intermittent steep embankments and cliff banks on one side or another. No committing canyon sections in this reach. There is heavy brush and forest along most of the bank on both sides of river. Log and debris piles are common on outside bends in river. There are several full trees in middle of river where it widens out and gravel bars are present. Soft bank undercuts and tree sweepers - strainers are common on outside bends. There are no significant rapids or whitewater and class of moving water would be determined as "class II". Road is on river left (Hwy 734) but is mostly inaccessible from the river. Approximately 1 km downstream of where incident occurred, river turns east and meets Cutoff Creek Road on river right. This location was intended take-out for the involved party.
Incident:
Party was nearing the end of their trip and were approximately 1 km upstream of take-out, where river is accessible from Cutoff Creek Road. Party came around a 90 degree left bend in river into channel wide log hazard. Log is a mature tree entirely across channel from log pile on river right (outside bend) to river left (open, flat gravel bank).
All 3 of party were unable to navigate their kayaks safely to the bank in time and all 3 mad contact with the wood hazard. All three paddlers came out of their kayaks during contact with wood hazard.
One kayak became pinned on log and two others were pushed through. All three of the party were pushed clear of wood hazard and became downstream of it. Two of the party (surviving parties) immediately recovered/self rescued into river left eddy before another 90 degree turn to the right, rescuing one kayak along with them. The pinned kayak was third party member's kayak. The remaining kayak became pinned on log pile on outside right bend immediately downstream of incident.
During their recovery into river left eddy, the two surviving members of party noticed the third member of the party in the water, downstream of them, going around the right bend. There is log pile on outside corner with strainer hazard, but third party member appears to be clear of it. Recovered party members observe that it appears third member of party is making intentional movements, swimming to the left side which is becoming an inside left bend in river. This bank is a flat, open gravel bank and appears safe. Two parties upstream then lose sight of third member of party. The swimmer did not appear to be in distress to other two members of his party. No rescue attempts were made.
As time passed and no contact (visual or audible signals) was established with third member of party (whom the other two members expected to walk back upstream and make visual contact with them), an SOS call with an In Reach device was made by surviving members. They provided details that 3 kayakers had come out of kayaks on river and one person was missing. Rescue crews attended, with prolonged response due to remoteness of location from rescue team in Rocky Mountain House. Approximately 2 hours from SOS call, crews met up with two surviving party members and obtained pertinent details. A hasty search of hot spots immediately downstream was conducted and the missing party member was found snagged on a tree protruding into water from collapsed bank on right side, on an outside left bend. The subject was submerged, face up, beneath water surface with spray skirt snagged on branches and left leg pinned between tree trunk and river bed. Water depth here is approximately 3 feet, with swift current.
Unknown if spray skirt or leg was caught/pinned first.
Location found was not intuitive based on point last seen, (last seen approx 50 meters downstream of incident, almost on inside bank just before left bend and found on outside bank of same left bend, approx 350 meters downstream of incident. Subject may have intentionally swam to outside bend, right side, in effort to achieve this bank due to road access on this side of river, as nearby, right side road access was anticipated by all members of party.
Root Causes:
Inappropriate watercraft and paddling equipment for swift water environment. It is my opinion that the above is the root cause as it is not certain that even a skilled whitewater paddler would have been able to maneuver to avoid the hazard in the same, inappropriate watercraft chosen by this party. Alternatively, it is possible members of this party may have been able to maneuver quickly to safe riverbank if in appropriate watercraft.
Contributing factors:
Based on statements from surviving party and observations of rescue crew:
- Inaccurate self-assessments of appropriate experience levels
- Incorrect assessments of hazards
- Lack of awareness on river hazards, river safety and river PPE which lead to lack of proactive behavior such as scouting, defensive swimming, etc.
- Inappropriate use of PPE for swift water environment: affixing items externally to PFDs.
- Inadequate PPE: no helmets, no thermal protection, no whistles
