Rafters Die on Bow River

Two men are presumed dead on the Bow River in Canada. The river was raging due to high water. There was a large group of boats approaching the “weir” or low-head dam when a few of the boats didn’t get to shore in time. Apparently the boats went over the dam. Low-head dams are particularly dangerous because water flows over them in a perfect sheet creating a hydraulic under the dam. A hydraulic created by a low-head dam circulates water like a washing machine on its side. If a person gets caught in this it is nearly impossible to get out of.
Witnesses say the men weren’t wearing PFDs when seen floating toward the dam and one witness reported that one of the men who made it to shore smelled of alcohol.

I would write some kind of reminder about wearing PFDs and staying sober on whitewater, but….. yeah, you know.

Image from Boat Ed, a site for boater education.

Add comment June 11th, 2007