Accident Database

The dire situation began when Jacob became pinned between his canoe and a rock in the middle of a large rapid, resulting in severe injuries, including crushed ribs and a punctured lung. In a remarkable display, Ben Trant was able to swim across the river, reach Jacob, and free him from the pinned canoe. Finding Jacob unconscious and not breathing, Ben administered several rescue breaths in the eddy behind the canoe before swimming him through the remainder of the rapid and then to shore. Jacob began to breathe again and had a faint pulse by the time they reached the bank. However, Jacob remained unconscious for two hours, gradually regaining awareness only to feel excruciating pain from his injuries.

 

Meanwhile, Will played a crucial role by using a satellite communication device to contact emergency services while Ben focused on rescuing Jacob. His timely message was essential for mobilizing the necessary rescue resources.  Additionally, Jimmy Smith, a resident of Roy, NM, and a volunteer fireman who had just met the boaters the day before, received a distress message with coordinates. He sprang into action and was among the first responders to reach the paddlers, working tirelessly late into the night to ensure Jacob Ben and Wills safety. "I can't thank him enough," Ben Trant said of Jimmy. "We only met this man the day before, and he dropped everything to help us. We will be friends for a long time."

 

New Mexico Game and Fish Sgt. Peralta hiked into the scene to provide medical assistance and directed other first responders on how to best access the injured individuals. Raton Fire and Emergency was called in to conduct a rope rescue but quickly realized that the extraction would be challenging given the terrain. Additional search and rescue (SAR) teams from various agencies soon arrived to assist.

 

By mid-afternoon, the New Mexico National Guard Search and Rescue deployed a Blackhawk helicopter to the scene. The helicopter crew successfully airlifted the critically injured Jacob out of the canyon and transported him to UNM Hospital for urgent care. Will crawled nearly 2 miles out of the canyon, while Ben managed to hike out under his own power. A collaborative effort involved multiple agencies, including the Colfax County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), Apollo Life Flight (on standby), NM National Guard Search & Rescue, Cimarron EMS, Raton Fire Search & Rescue, NM Game & Fish (NMGF), and the Philmont Search & Rescue Team.

 

 

VIDEO: Canoeing accident in northern New Mexico leads to dramatic rescue operation

by: Jordan Honeycutt

Posted: Jun 16, 2025 / 04:41 PM MDT

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Video from New Mexico Game and Fish shows a dramatic rescue in northern New Mexico.

On May 16, three men from Louisiana flipped their canoes on the Canadian River, more than five miles south of Taylor Springs near Springer. A New Mexico Game and Fish officer was first to the scene. The officer found the three men on the river’s edge injured. One had serious injuries, which included six broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Canoer: What I believe, sir, he got pinned in that boat, across his chest for a few minutes until I could get to him and drag him out… he was unconscious, kind of snoring when I got him to the edge.”

It was almost two hours before rescue crews could get to the men to check their injuries. They had to navigate a dangerous 250-foot drop into the remote canyon.

Canoer: You uh…. is there any kind of landing zone possible?
NM Game and Fish Officer: Man, we’re trying to figure it out. You guys picked a crazy place, but we’ll get it situated.”

While crews got the men off the river’s edge, getting them out of the canyon would take the National Guard. It would take roughly five hours for the group to be extracted. The man with the most severe injuries was flown by helicopter to receive treatment at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

The family of the man who was airlifted says he’s recovering from his injuries. Crews helped a second injured canoeer get out of the canyon with a broken leg. The third ended up walking out of the canyon on his own.

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