Yukon Coroner’s Service and RCMP investigate death on Tatshenshini river
June 26, 2025 – The Yukon Coroner’s Service, with assistance from the Haines Junction detachment of the Yukon RCMP, is investigating a river rafting fatality that occurred on June 22, 2025, on the Tatshenshini River.
A group of river guides based out of Haines, Alaska with extensive rafting experience were on a recreational paddle during a day off when the incident occurred. The group consisted of 24 people within four rafts. Their trip started off on the Blanchard River. Approximately one hour into the trip, at the confluence with the Tatshenshini River while going through “The Big Three” rapids (named Boulder Garden, C to C, and Twin Holes), one raft high-sided on a rock and flipped. While the water was high, the raft that flipped had
five experienced river guides in it. All five people were thrown into the water upon the raft flipping, four of whom were recovered immediately. One of the five people in the raft was in the water for several minutes before resurfacing and was brought onto another raft where resuscitation efforts began immediately as the group moved towards the shore. Tragically, these efforts were unsuccessful.
The incident claimed the life of 33-year-old Marin Elizabeth PITT who died on the scene. PITT – who was originally from Utah but had been working as a river guide in Haines, Alaska since April 2025 – had over 10 years of experience in rafting and guiding and was wearing full safety gear, including a personal floatation device, a wet/dry suit, a helmet and appropriate under-clothing.
The Yukon Coroner’s Service is deeply saddened by this incident and extends its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ms. PITT.
Alaska-based river guide dies on rafting trip near B.C.-Yukon border
CBC
Thu, June 26, 2025
A river flows in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in northern B.C., near the area where a woman was killed in a rafting mishap on Sunday. Marin Elizabeth Pitt, 33, was part of a large group of experienced rafting guides travelling on the Blanchard and Tatshenhini River when she died. (Reuters/Bob Strong - image credit)
A river flows in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in northern B.C., near the area where a woman was killed in a rafting mishap on Sunday. Marin Elizabeth Pitt, 33, was part of a large group of experienced rafting guides travelling on the Blanchard and Tatshenhini River when she died. (Reuters/Bob Strong - image credit)
Yukon's coroner said Thursday that 33-year-old Marin Elizabeth Pitt, an experienced river guide, died while out on a group excursion down the Blanchard and Tatshenshini Rivers.
A news release says that the group of 24 people — all river guides based out of Haines, Alaska — had a day off on Sunday and were enjoying a recreational paddle when the incident happened. The area is a popular spot for guided rafting trips.
The trouble began when the group, divided among four rafts, reached some rapids at the confluence of the Blanchard and Tatshenshini Rivers. The water was high and one of the rafts "high-sided" on a rock, the coroner says, and flipped sending Pitt and four others into the water.
The four other people were quickly pulled from the water but Pitt "was in the water for several minutes before resurfacing," the coroner says. Pitt was then pulled into another raft but could not be resuscitated.
Pitt was originally from Utah and had been working as a river guide in Haines since April. The coroner says Pitt had more than 10 years of experience in rafting and guiding, and was wearing full safety gear, including a PFD, wet/dry suit, and appropriate under-clothing, when the incident happened.
