Accident Database

Report ID# 3722

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  • Flush Drowning
  • Does not Apply
  • Cold Water
  • High Water

Accident Description

Tumwater Canyon is an unforgiving place if you end up out of your boat. While flows were high we actually have had a cooler spell that dropped flows a bit this weekend to a level that is within the range of "reasonable" for a high challenge class V bigwater run. Flows were 4300 cfs on the gauge upstream of the run and 5800 on the gauge downstream of the run. Most now use the upper gauge as a reference. point.

Man dies after raft overturns in Tumwater Canyon By Christine

Pratt Wenachee World staff writer

Saturday, May 25, 2013

LEAVENWORTH — A man thought to be in his 50s died Saturday after flipping his single-person raft on a rough stretch of the Wenatchee River, about a half-mile upstream of The Alps candy store, near Leavenworth. John Wisemore, Chelan County undersheriff, said the man was riding the river in a “Creature Craft” — a rugged inflatable raft designed to right itself when it flips over. He was not traveling with a tour group.

When it flipped, the victim apparently became unseated and couldn’t stay with the raft when it flipped back up, Wisemore said. The incident was reported just after 4 p.m. Other rafters on the river, spotted the man, who was wearing both a helmet and life jacket. He was in the water about eight minutes, Wisemore said. They performed CPR on the man, as did a Chelan County sheriff’s deputy and emergency crews. The man was transported to Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth, where he died, Wisemore said

Drowning victim identified

By K.C. Mehaffey, Wenachee World staff writer T

uesday, May 28, 2013 Leavenworth, WA The man who died rafting in Tumwater Canyon Saturday afternoon was identified as Kenneth E. Tyson, 54, of Newport, Ore.His identity was released by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon. Authorities believe that Tyson drowned in a rough stretch of the Wenatchee River after a single-person raft flipped over, but an autopsy today will help determine whether there were any other factors, said Undersheriff John Wisemore. The raft he was in, a Creature Craft, is designed to right itself when it flips over. An initial investigation found he either became unseated or couldn’t stay in the raft when it flipped back upright, Wisemore said. — K.C. Mehaffey, World staff

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