Fresno County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) reported that Russell Mayfield, age 65, died in the hospital after being trapped in the gauging weir underneath the bridge just downstream of Pine Flat Dam. This weir is immediately upstream of the river put in. It was reported that witnesses threw a rope to Mayfield, but that he was not able to hang on. Sheriff's deputies who were nearby training in river rescue, came to the location and retrieved Mayfield from the river. The reports imply that Mayfield was pulled from the river downstream of the gauging weir. The FCSO stated that Mayfield was wearing a life jacket, but that it was halfway unzipped.
The gauging weir underneath the bridge at Pine Flat Dam is a death trap and is documented as such in the AW river page for this section of river.
There is a Deadly Hazard just upstream of the put-in. A gauging weir (low head dam), is underneath the bridge upstream of the put-in. There is no easy way to get a complete look at this weir, but looking down from the bridge, you can watch the water boiling up to the surface then rushing back upstream under the bridge. No floating object or person can escape once sucked in. It is a classic 'low head dam' with a steep drop and strong reversal that will drown anyone who ventures too close and who is not quickly rescued from outside. Signs warn of the danger and direct you to launch at least 300 feet downstream of this bridge. See the 'killing machine' pictures below. Three people have died here in 40 years, according to one knowledgeable source at Army Corp. A few others have been rescued before they perished.
The backwash is long and steep. Pulling someone out through the backwash is very difficult and requires multiple people pulling on a rope. The swimmer will not be able to hang on unless the rope is attached or wrapped around their body.
The weir is divided into 6 sections by 5 concrete bridge supports. There is a very strong upstream flow alongside the bridge supports. This flow starts further downstream from the bridge than boaters might realize. It seems likely that Mayfield was curious and paddled near the weir to get a view. The upstream current could have caught him and pulled him in from what he thought was a safe distance. It is remarkable that witnesses had a rope and were able to throw it to him. That he was not able to hang on, is unsurprising. The recirculation is extremely strong, and the typical way of hanging on to a rope would mean his face was mostly submerged.
The reports state that Mayfields life jacket was partly unzipped, but this is most likely caused by the violent recirculation. Recirculations usually strip life jackets off, given enough time.
Kayaker in critical condition after being swept away by 'most treacherous part' of Kings River
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A kayaker was rushed to the hospital after he was pulled from the Kings River in Fresno County on Friday. The man fell into the water just after 2 p.m. near the Pine Flat Dam. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office A man in his 60's was kayaking near the Pine Flat Dam when his kayak turned over and the current sucked him under water.
Sheriff's Deputies were not far as they were actually out doing dive training nearby at Avocado Lake. Before deputies could arrive, a group of about six good Samaritans sprang into action and tried to use a rope to pull him out. "They had him at one point. He had a hold on the rope, but I think he had been there for so long that he's been struggling, that he just tired out, and pretty much after that he just went under," said Virginia Schuk, a witness. After about 20 minutes, the man's body floated down the river.
A deputy was able to pull him out, and first responders performed CPR before transporting him to Clovis Community Hospital. Sergeant Chris Tullus with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office took Action News over the bridge and showed us just how strong the currents are at the base of the dam.
"You can just hear how raging the water is right now. Oh yeah, and this is not full power. This is not full power in the river. This is the most dangerous section of the Kings River," said Sgt. Tullus,.
The sheriff's office usually wraps up its swift water rescue training this time of year, just in time for the warmer months. Right now, they have about 30 trained deputies on the force.
Tullus says the kayaker was wearing a life vest, but it wasn't fully fastened.
His main message ahead of Easter weekend is to just stay out of the water in this area.
"All the different colors of water right here, that's called air ration. There's no traction. There's no way to swim in that. If you get stuck in that, you could be wearing all the life jackets in the world. It's going to pull you down and shoot you back up," said Tullus.
Tullus says the good Samaritans did everything right in this scenario, that it could've been much worse if one of them had gone in to try and save the man, they might've needed saving themselves.
He says if you're in this situation, remain calm and call 9-1-1 and do not get into the water.
