Accident Database

Incident report of drowning on Lower Youghiogheny River on 6/13/2025

This report is made purposely omitting the names of those directly involved, as they request privacy during this time of grieving and healing.

This report is based on firsthand accounts from those directly involved, based on conversations that I had with them throughout the immediate days following the incident. After the incident, another close friend of the victim and I also paddled the same section of the river where the incident occured, in order to surmise the conditions and what potentially happened at the scene. If you have any questions or need any additional information, I am available via Facebook Messenger, Matthew A. Laschalt, to initiate contact so that I may field any and all inquiries as an informed liaison and the main contact person.

Date: 6/13/2025

River Level: 4.3 visual put-in gauge

Time of day: evening

Boats: 

Boater #1: Dagger Rewind

Victim: Pyrhana Ripper

Boater #3: Liquid Logic Brapp

The paddlers involved were all very experienced with this section of the river, both at this level and even higher levels, and considered the run to be well within their skills and experience level. All the paddlers were regulars on runs such as the Upper Yough. This was a comfortable, recreational paddle excursion on Friday afternoon, not a thrill seeking, adrenaline evoking paddle for the group. 

The incident occured at the rapid called Bottle of Wine. The group informally lined up to run the well known standard “boof” on the river left of the main tongue. Boater #1 successfully executed the move and turned to river right, back into the main flow; not without first turning their head to see Boater #2, the victim, also successfully execute the “boof” move, after which he splashed down, whilst smiling ear to ear. He proceeded further river left, followed by Boater #3, who also successfully completed the move. Both passed in front of a hole marked by a fanning roostertail (A). The victim then attempted to punch through the unremarkable pour over feature, directly in front of him (B). It is unclear why he was unsuccessful clearing the trough of recirculating water of the pour over feature. He was pulled back into the pour over and began side surfing. Boater #3 observed the victim become stuck, and then Boater #3 positioned themself in the eddy on river right of the pour over hole. The victim “window shaded” and/or rolled in the hole several times, then exited his boat. The victim remained in the pourover hole even after exiting his boat. Boater #3 then attempted at least three times to position the stern of their boat within reach of the then-still conscious victim. Meanwhile, Boater #1 made their way to the river left shore and began to move upstream on foot. After repeated attempts to retrieve to victim, Boater #3 over committed in attempting to reach the victim and was also pulled into the pourover hole. The victim lost consciousness while Boater #3 struggled to move them both to the right side of the hole.  At some point Boater #3 was forced to exit their boat after which time both Boater #3 and the victim were flushed from the hole on the river right side, the victim first, then followed by Boater #3. Boater #3 rapidly swam to the facedown victim and righted him to a faceup position, while Boater #1 re-entered their boat to move the victim and Boater #3 to the river right shore, as it was the easiest to reach.  Once reaching shore, first aid was administered to the victim. Both rescuing boaters had previously participated in appropriate first aid seminars and classes over their long paddling careers and/or military service.

Once they arrived on scene, local fire and rescue and a private raft outfitter were involved in the extraction of the victim. Several in the group on the scene that evening spoke highly of the Ohiopyle Fire Department’s professionalism.

Analysis:

First and last, this tragedy was bad luck.  Boater #3 heroically placed themself in the pourover hole in which the victim drowned. Boater #3 possibly exited their boat without  becoming exhausted from a long series of window shading and rolls and was flushed from the hole relatively unscathed, just after the victim was flushed from the hole.

Bringing the victim to the river left side of the river, rather than the right side would have been more convenient for extraction ultimately, but had no bearing on the outcome, due to the passage of time between when the victim lost consciousness and when first responders arrived. It was more important for Boater #1 and Boater #3 to get the victim to shore faster to begin aid. The travel time to the remote area makes it unlikely that even with fire and rescue’s specialized equipment and training, that they could have revived the victim, who was without vital signs for a significant amount of time, regardless of which side of the river he was on when they arrived.

Speaking on behalf of the family and friends of the victim: Any further “what if” analysis or speculation should be avoided, without any public commentary, maintaining the dignity of the victim and those involved. We ask that you respect the request for privacy as we deal with these difficult circumstances. Thank you. 

Kayaker drowns in Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle State Park

June 14, 2025

Shannon Perrine, Evening Anchor, WTAE Pittsburgh

OHIOPYLE, Pa. - A man drowned in the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County on Friday night, the coroner's office said.Michael Barney, 43, of State College, was pronounced dead at the scene in Ohiopyle State Park, according to a statement from Coroner Dr. Bob Baker.

Barney was kayaking with friends in the lower Yough River when he got stuck in a rapid, the coroner said. First responders were unable to save the man. The coroner's office said it responded to the call just before 7:20 p.m.