Accident Database

Report ID# 947

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  • Swim into Strainer
  • Hypothermia
  • Cold Water
  • One Boat Trip

Accident Description

And on December 17th two fellows decided to try out their new kayaks on Arkansas' North Cadron Creek, which was flooding (12,000 cfs.) According to The Log Cabin, John and Eric Buckner (both in their 20's) launched from the Highway 65 bridge at 1:00 p.m. The pair got caught on a river wide log jam and spent the night out. After several hours their concerned families called authorities. Emergency squad members arrived, but said that the water was too fast to safely launch a boat. A State Police helicopter flew over the river after dark, but their infra-red detection device didn't work in the icy mist. Fortunately, the pair's wetsuits kept them from freezing. By dawn the river had dropped considerably, and they were able to walk out.

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