Professor Paddle: Kayaker dies on Upper Gauley

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Kayaker dies on Upper Gauley
									17-year-old from Montana was ‘experienced’
									By Amelia A. Pridemore

									Register-Herald Reporter

									A
17-year-old student from a Montana kayaking prep school drowned Friday
when his kayak got trapped under water on the Upper Gauley River,
authorities said.

The body of the Missoula, Mont., teen was
taken to the Fayette County coroner’s office, Chief Ranger Gary Hartley
of the New River Gorge National River said. His name will not be
released because of his age.

The incident was reported to the
Fayette County Emergency Operations Center around 1:30 p.m. Friday. A
group of about 10 students and an instructor from the Missoula-based
World Class Kayak Academy were taking a trip on the Upper Gauley. The
academy is a preparatory high school specializing in training
competitive kayakers.

The group was in a rapid about a half-mile
above the Class V Sweet’s Falls rapid and the victim was trying to
navigate water between two rocks, called a “chute,” Hartley said. His
kayak then became entrapped and submerged near a rock known as
Thumbnail Rock.

Members of the group tried to rescue the boy, as
did private boaters and commercial rafters, Hartley said. None was
successful. Two of the boy’s classmates then traveled downstream to get
help. They reached a commercial rafting group at Sweet’s Falls — where
most kayaking and rafting trips on the Upper Gauley end — which
summoned help with its radio-based communications system.

Once
the call was made, professional rescuers from the Oak Hill Fire
Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team, the Fayetteville Fire
Department’s Vertical Rescue Team, Ansted Fire Department, Jan-Care
Ambulance and National Park Service arrived on the scene and took over,
Hartley said. After two hours, the boy’s body was recovered. The kayak
was wedged and caught underneath a rock.

“It was upside-down with him in it,” Hartley said. “It was pinned with him in it, under water.”

Hartley
said he understood all the students were “experienced” kayakers. They
had been on a multi-state kayaking tour, and their instructor told
authorities this was the school’s first fatality.

--------------- Copied from http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_278233034.html -------

I am not sure what this will do to the school, but my prayers and thoughts are with this family and the students involved. I don't know when the last fatality occurred but this is certainly an accident that will affect our community. If anyone has word on memorial funds or other charities relating to this event lets get them posted here so those that want to play a role in helping can.

James