The put in is at the end of the Maury River as it confluences with the James. It’s the put in for a fairly mild section of white water that takes out about 4 miles down river in Snowden. It’s very rocky at at this lower water level, very easy to flip in the narrow channels. Beyond the confluence it gets wide and a little deep, but not particularly fast or dangerous.
From David Bradford via FB: I am Safety & Education Chair for Coastal Canoeists, an L4 SWR Instructor, and a member of Rockbridge Baths VFD SWR team involved in the search and eventual recovery of Octavia Richardson on the James River both Saturday evening and Sunday.
She was paddling with a young man, both were in pelican 8 ft sit on top kayaks, neither were skilled, knowledgeable, or prepared for the conditions. They put on the river at about 5pm. Sunset was at 5:02 pm. They thought they would paddle upstream, away from the rapids just downstream of where they put in. They were unable to make any progress upstream, so they turned in an attempt to get back to the put in. Ms Richardson flipped and was unable to swim to the nearby rocks at the urging of her companion who was unable to help her.
Neither were wearing PFDs, both were wearing street clothes. When she was recovered she was wearing a heavy flannel shirt-jacket and sweat pants, which probably made swimming difficult. The water there is generally about 3 to 6 feet deep, with holes and crevasses that go deeper. Divers said they found her in about 8.5 ft of water, after about 6 hours of searching by crews from at least 4 local Fire & Rescue companies.
Water level was extremely low (about600 cfs) and class I where they put in. They intended to stay on the flat, but moving, water above the class II rapid where the upset likely occurred. She was recovered in the run out from the class II.
From the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: Richardson and another kayaker were floating the James River Saturday evening when both kayaks capsized. One kayaker made it to shore and was treated for hypothermia. Crews search Saturday night and throughout the day on Sunday until Richardson was found at 4:17 p.m. Neither kayaker was wearing a life jacket, the department said.
Woman found dead after kayaking in river
Published: Nov. 24, 2024
GLASGOW, Va. (WDBJ) - UPDATE: Octavia Richardson was found dead after kayaking in the James River, according to her family.
ORIGINAL STORY: First responders are searching for a woman who flipped out of her kayak in the James River near Locher Landing Saturday around 5 p.m.
The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office said a search and rescue operation is underway as of Sunday morning for 20-year-old Octavia Richardson.
Family members at the scene of the search told WDBJ7 Richardson’s kayak and oars have been found, but they and authorities say there’s been no sighting of her since 5 p.m. Saturday.
