We put in for a kayak and canoe floating and fishing trip on Sunday the 8th. We brought some newbies to canoing and kayaking. This became fairly evident on the way down the river. Nevertheless, I think we have added to our cadre of river participants.
Note to all, if you are going to float from Riverside to Shannondale Springs:
A:) It is going to be a Long Long day (ask SingleFabulous)
B:) Bring PLENTY of Sunscreen.. and it helps to use it (ask Aaron)
C:) Be ready to Participate in a river rescue!!
Once again I have found that putting in on a river float is always interesting and filled with the unexpected. The first unexpected events started off right away when Barry and Dawn first attempted to anchor and flipped their canoe right off. That set the tone for the canoe on the rest of the trip. Perhaps they read the story on Paul's under the boat fishing technique and figured it was requisite. I have never seen a canoe flipped so often as on this trip. It was great fun to watch. I don't have a complete tally on what all was lost but I do know Barry's shoes disappeared within the first 20 minutes.
As is often the case with our trips there is a Conservation Officer involved at the end. Dawn arrived at the take out spot before anyone else. She was in a panic when Barry and Aaron arrived behind her. A small child had disappeared under the water and the father was attempting to find him. Dawn was in my infamous "Yellow Banana" kayak and they were able to use it toward finding and getting the child ashore. The child had been underwater for quite a time (10 minutes by the time they found him). Once ashore, the childwas not breathing and he was unconscious. Barry called it in to 911 on his cell phone while some some other people, not exhausted from searching the waters, administered CPR. The ambulance arrived and Dawn continued in helping the family and headed to the hospital behind the ambulance. At last word, the child had a pulse and was Life-Flighted to "Childrens Hospital" in Washington, D.C. I don't have an update from that point on. There was a local reporter there and we expect an article to be published in the days to come. I'll link to it here. I didn't think to take any pictures at the take out, but the reporters did. I talked with Ofc. Ken White who recognized me from Carp Fishing and lent him my GPS for his report. He was upset about it as he was at the river just minutes before the drowning happened and had just left the siite just before it occurred.
All said we were all grateful to be of aid. We hope for the best with regard for the child. It serves as a reminder to always be prepared on the river. I just wish we all could have gotten there earlier and been in a better position to help/prevent the accident. If Dawn hadn't been there with the Yellow Kayak the outcome would have been dire!!!!!!!!!!!!
UPDATE: Officer White called Barry today and the consequences were indeed very dire. The child did not pull through despite extraordinary measures by all involved.
Eventful Kayak Trip Report (Updated)
