The East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon near Yellow Pine, Idaho is one of the toughest, most relentless pieces of Class V+ whitewater in the country. On Monday, May 31 Bert Ole Funk, 29, was attempting a high water run with six friends. An article written for the McCall Star-News by Roger Phillips described the following chain of events: Funk apparently flipped while trying to enter an eddy above Flight Simulator. He rolled up, missed a second eddy, and drifted backwards into a large hole. He washed out quickly, but missed several roll attempts, and bailed out. He swam the rest of this long rapid, getting battered by many large holes. As the group gave chase, several people on shore reached him with accurately-placed throw ropes. The group believes that Funk was still conscious, but he could not grab hold of a rope. He was pulled into shore by another party two miles downstream. They tried CPR, but by then it was too late. Rescuers found deeply gouges on Funk's helmet, and they believe a blow to the head may have stunned him and left him helpless.
