Accident Database

Report ID# 4413

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  • Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
  • Does not Apply
  • Cold Water
  • High Water

Accident Description

June 16th 2011 – Pinball Rapid: Curtis Waters (52 Y.O.A, male) was a passenger on a commercial oar powered raft on a 7 boat trip. The 14’ NRS raft capsized in a large hole at the top of Pinball Rapid. All passengers were contacted and rescued by other rafts on the trip. Waters was the final person to be contacted by another raft. The guide and other passengers were unable to pull Waters into the raft. As they were attempting to get him in the raft it broached on a group of rocks at the bottom of the rapid. Waters was holding on to the raft frame on the upstream side with his legs being swept under the raft. As the guide and passengers continued to try to pull Waters into the raft his PFD came off over his head. As they could not pull him in and the raft was stuck, the guide instructed him to let go and swim to another raft waiting downstream. As Waters came free he was picked up about 80 yards downstream by another raft. Waters was unresponsive and CPR was administered but was unsuccessful. The river flow was 3,290 cfs.

Stu Pappenfort, AHRA

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