Accident Database

Report ID# 3315

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Accident Description

: 4-28-10

BELLE FOURCHE, SD - Spearfish woman saves husband's life after kayak capsizes at Orman Dam A Spearfish woman's CPR for her husband apparently saved his life after the 2 ran into trouble in kayaks at the diversion dam on the Belle Fourche River NE of Belle Fourche. Butte Co. Deputy Sheriff Doug Parrow said dispatch got a call at about 3 p.m. Wed. (04-28) from the woman.

The wife said that she saw him get sucked through (the dam) and overturn; then she got out and got him out of the water. She said when she got him up, he was not breathing and did not have a heartbeat. She stated she performed CPR on him and brought him back, and then she went to the nearest place she could find to summon help. "He was alert and conscious upon our arrival," the deputy said.

The 40-y/o man and 37-y/o woman were both treated and transported to Spearfish Regional Hosp. The 2 were shaken up by the experience. They were not clear in explaining where they entered the water in the kayaks, but it apparently was in Belle Fourche. The river runs through town, flows N. and then E. toward the Belle Fourche Reservoir at Orman Dam. The strong current in the river, not gusty winds crossing the area at about that time, apparently pulled both kayaks through the dam.

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_427fe5a2-530e-11df-9331-001cc4c03286.html

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