Accident Database

Report ID# 807

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  • Impact/Trauma
  • Head Injury / Concussion
  • Solo Paddling

Accident Description

Kayaker Andy Leifheit was driving along the Narrows of Colorado’s Poudre River on May 31 when he spotted a solo kayaker below a big drop, struggling to roll against a steep cliff. As described in a post to Mountainbuzz.com, he grabbed a PFD, helmet, and throw bag and scrambled down the steep banks to assist. He found an empty kayak floating in a roadside eddy.

Heading downstream, he found several river guides at a roadside access and reported the incident. Driving back upstream, he was flagged down by a woman just above the Lower Narrows Bridge. She and her companion had just pulled a man out of the river. His helmet was missing and there were several severe head wounds. They began CPR; other boaters arrived at the scene, and one of them, an EMT, took over. They continued until authorities arrived.

Several days later the lone paddler was identified as L.W Jinks, a 26-year-old truck driver whose car was found at an upstream campground.

http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/396417

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