Accident/Incident Database

20070113^?, 13 January 2007 15:30^?, Fatal accident^? / Entrapment-Tree^?
Victim^?: USA, 48, Male
Location^?: Southland/Waikaia/Canton Bridge to Piano Flat^?

Class^?: IV-V
Flow^?: 13.5cu , "Medium"
Boat Type^?: Kayak-Creek/Bliss-Stick Mystic
Trip Type^?: Private

Summary^?:

Two kayaks put on the river. One ran a rapid and waited for the other in an eddy. When the second kayaker failed to appear his companion scrambled over rocks searching, but only found a paddle. After 30 minutes the remaining kayaker paddled out and alerted authorities.

Police Search and Rescue and helicopters searched the river but found no sign of the victim. The search was suspended for several days due to rising river flows. When the water level dropped, the victim was discovered in his kayak after winching a tree out of the way.

Discussion^?:

No additional comments at this time.

Sources^?:
Accident Report Waikaia Kayak 07 4316, March 2008, Maritime NZ.
Tourist's body found in submerged kayak, 18 January 2007, NZPA.
Camera to help search for kayaker, 17 January 2007, Sonia Gerken, The Southland Times.
'Whitewater Outlaw' was veteran kayaker, 16 January 2007, Debbie Jamieson, The Press.
Speed of tragedy shocks, 16 January 2007, Sonia Gerken, The Southland Times.
Southland search for missing kayaker suspended, 15 January 2007, NZPA.
Kayaker presumed dead, 15 January 2007, Debbie Porteous, Otago Daily Times.

Reported by^?: Jonathan Hunt
Created: 2007-01-16, changed: 2008-03-11.