Tragic Trip

[Sourdough]

Sky and his friends went to Anchorage Monday.  On Tuesday they went White Water Rafting with an experienced Rafting Company.  First set of rapids everything was good, one member of Sky's friends fell out of the raft.  But she was able to pull herself back into the raft.  Then on the second set of rapids one of the rafts overturned, in a freak accident.  Everyone on board was thrown into the water.  Due to the height of the rapids, they could not see the over turned raft.  The first indicator of problems was they saw a man in the water.  Sky's group was able to throw a line to him.  That enabled the person to keep up with the rafts, and swing over to another raft to be pulled out.  Only when they went up on high waves could they see other people and the overturned raft.  Another woman fell out but was picked up by another raft.  At the next grounding she moved back into the raft with her friends.  There was six rafts in the group.  Sky said he could see the one fellow waving his arms when they went high, but they were unable to catch up with him.  Another raft pulled him from the water, and started CPR.  They continued CPR for over 20 minutes to no avail.  When they pulled in at the take out, an ambulance was waiting.  The EMTs worked on the guy but was unable to get a pulse going.  Poor ending to a really great raft trip.  Here is the write up in the Anchorage Daily News.
 
The Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A man who was on a rafting trip near Hope south of Anchorage died after falling overboard.
KTUU-TV (http://is.gd/VeNnyx) reports that Steven Morton from the United  Kingdom died Monday during a Nova River Runners trip down Six Mile  Creek.
Nova River Runners owner Chuck Spaulding says water levels  along the creek were elevated due to recent snowmelt, but below a level  where trips would be suspended.
Officials with the Chickaloon-based company say a rescue was initiated and Morton was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
The company had a similar fatality in 1997 on Six Mile Creek when Anchorage doctor Gary Archer died when his raft overturned.           
Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com

[FPH]

Thoughts for ALL involved.  Water can be unforgiving.

[Sourdough]

Sky said the guides made all the rafters swim across the river to their rafts, to prove they could swim.  This also let them know just how cold the water was, even though they were wearing dry suites.  He said he he swam most of the way, till he got out of the current.  Then he just rolled over on his back kicking and started blowing on his unprotected hands.  The water was so cold his hands were drawing up.  That is spring water in Alaska.  He said he now has a healthy respect for White Water Kayakers. 

[FPH]

I lost a good friend at the end of our Senior year in high school.  He was built like a greek god, was the current TX heavy Wt. wrestleing champ ( was in great shape) ,was Mormon ( did not drink) and he drowned in calm waters at the lake.....as I said, water can be unforgiving and tragic.