Taos County Sheriff's Office
Press release - Rio Grande River Rescue
On October 26th the Taos County Sheriff’s Office with support from Classic Air, BLM River Raft Personnel, river guides John Fullbright and John Nettles, as well as Taos County Fire personnel, conducted River Rescue operations in the Rio Grande Box. This is a notoriously treacherous section of the Rio Grande canyon south of the Gorge Bridge, noted for white water rapids in the spring and dangerous low water conditions in the fall.
In a statement given to Sheriff’s Sergeant David Romo the two individuals, 43-year-old Jeremy Norris and 37-year-old Sydnie Keeter, read an internet Blog that indicated that the river at this point was flat water and could be floated in an inner tube. So, they attempted to paddle board the “Box” from the John Dunn “put in” at approximately 12:00PM. This is at a minimum, a 5-8 hour trip with professional river guides and actual quality rafts. At a point about three miles south of the High Bridge, they flipped their boards losing control and found themselves stranded in the Gorge. They were able to send an “SOS” via phone that reached Taos Central Dispatch. Search efforts were initiated immediately. They were cold and wet, as they were without wet suits, shoes, life jackets, cold weather gear or other supplies typically taken down by professional guides. The two were initially located by the Sheriff’s drone operator and the location was confirmed by Classic Air helicopter pilots. The river guides who set off at approximately 10PM with survival supplies did reach the two stranded paddle boarders at about 1AM as the two were hypothermic as the temperatures were near freezing by the water. They were cared for by the river guides and kept warm through the night. The next morning, BLM’s River Raft Team set out with a craft large enough to ferry the two, downstream to the Taos Junction Bridge where they received medical attention and care.
The two, would most certainly have perished had it not been for the bravery of river guides John Fullbright and John “Copper John” Nettles, who set off and navigated the already treacherous river, in the darkness of night, getting crucial supplies and dry clothing to them. Had the rescue efforts waited till morning, this absolutely would have been a body recovery due to the freezing temperatures.
