Accident Database

Report ID# 549

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  • Pinned in Boat against Rock or Sieve
  • Near Drowning
  • Other

Accident Description

Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 1999

To: ted stabler; pervis; paul schelp; john freedman; joe from ny; jason robertson; greg; ed hand; doug english; dave mackintosh; dan caushe; Bryan Christiansen; b.d. drew

Subject: lost boat/swim at GF

Here is what I posted on the WS chat board, can someone please put it on RBP? I got the sketchy details from Dave Collins. Does anyone know Joe's email? Don't know all the details, but a guy in a red white and blue X C-1 swam last night at GF. I beleive it was Joe Stumpfeld (most likely spelled wrong), a very talented paddler from Baltimore. At the point this happend I had already left so details are sketchy. I heard from someone who was there that Joe ran Pumel too far left and went deep. He got worked on both sides of the curtain for a while before swimming. Apparently Joe said he had to claw his way off the bottom to get out. Anyway, he and his paddle finaly came up, but no boat. After an hour they gave up on the boat, although I hear it was found down by Anglers. Does anyone know how to get in touch w/ Joe? This drop is not a no brainer as some would sugguest. Several close calls have occured here. Please be careful! martin

Another accident report for Great Falls (2 lost boats adn 2 bad swims in 2 days at pummel).

To: jason robertson; paul schelp

Subject: falls stuff

Hey Paul - FYI: last night there was an incident exactly like the one the night before. An experienced paddler ran pumel and got too far left. After getting hammered, he swam and lost his boat (a red/orange/blue X). It would appear that there is an undercut or at least wierd spot that pins boats on the bottom (and could obviously pin swimmer as well). The paddler is going to call the NPS this morning so as to avoid any concern about finding an empty boat. I have put a brief report on the WS board. If you get a chance, could you put something on RBP. Way early in falls season for all this carnage if you ask me (I know - you didn't ask me). Just thought you should know. I'm going to cc Jason. martin

Don't know all the details, but a guy in a red white and blue X C-1 swam last night at GF. I beleive it was Joe Stumpfeld (most likely spelled wrong), a very talented paddler from Baltimore. At the point this happend I had already left so details are sketchy. I heard from someone who was there that Joe ran Pumel too far left and went deep. He got worked on both sides of the curtain for a while before swimming. Apparently Joe said he had to claw his way off the bottom to get out. Anyway, he and his paddle finaly came up, but no boat. After an hour they gave up on the boat, although I hear it was found down by Anglers. Does anyone know how to get in touch w/ Joe? This drop is not a no brainer as some would sugguest. Several close calls have occured here. Please be careful!

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