I was the shuttle driver and safety on a trip where the rafter missed the throw line and was overcome. She continued downstream for about 3 miles. One person spotted her on her way through Idaho Springs. She was on her back head under about 6" of water. Rescue was executed by the McDonalds on the East side of Idaho Springs. The Swim occurred just below Fall River road on a section known as The Stairs. It was early season and really high water. It was over 1,000 CFS. They got stuck in a hydraulic and flipped. I was stationed with my throw bag ready just at the end of what is basically a fish ladderdownstream because a flip in that section is really bad as it leads into the Phoenix Hole. You do not want to swim in Phoenix. Anyway the current was really moving. I threw the bag downstream of her by about 15-20 feet. She reached for the rope but went under and came up about 20' downstream of the rope. She was out of my reach and moving way faster than I could run. I immediately grabbed my phone and called 911. The EMS in Clear Creek County is top notch. and a rescue operation was quickly. I heard the sirens as soon as I got of the phone with 911. The had sight of her going through town. She was floating on her back with her head under water. She stopped breathing for 45 minutes and they had to do CPR on her. She spent a few days in the hospital. I was told that she showed no signs of brain damage from not breathing for close to an hour. Something about the temperature of the water kept her from having rain damage. I interviewed with the Division of Wildlife. Because she stopped breathing, they wanted a report. The Officers told me that I had done everything right. From where I was standing, to my throw, I stopped driving Shuttle at the end of that season. I kept looking at customers and wonder if they would be at the take out.
Two points: My 40 year experience with conducting and teaching rescue techniques has convinced me that even practiced people with throw bags are only 10% accurate in getting a rope to a swimmer about 30 feet away and children do not have the mental maturity to be trusted to keep their feet up.
I highly disagree with your percentage, and I take offense at you insulting professional guides. I don't know where you're from or where you teach but from my experiences it's more like 70-80% from such a short distance. I've been a professional river guide for 45+ years on Class 4-5 rivers in NC, TN, GA, WV, MD, AZ, ID, and CO. I've guided with some top notch guides that I trust with my life. I've also been a private boater on the same waters. Personally, I can only remember missing about 2 or 3 swimmers and they were about 50-60 feet away in rapidly moving water. I will agree that there are some "guides" and boating clubs that aren't very accurate. I've sat in the Eddy below Lesser Wesser on the Nantahala and witnessed the insanity of 10-12 ropes being tossed at the same time for one swimmer. Those are the people your comment should be directed towards. It's scary when 4-5 ropes are coming across your boat...
Have you considered using a catapult. I go backpacking and I have to throw a rock bag over high tree limbs, and getting it right had been a problem. I solved my problem with a catapult. I have a hiking stick, which is just a mop stick, cut to 45 inches long. I tie a loop on the rope that just fits around the diameter of the stick, ten inches down the rope is the rock bag, then the rest of the line. Then you swing the stick and throw the rock bag and the loop slides off the stick. It is a manual catapult. This gives you more power and directional control. Try using a mop stick catapult with your throw rope.
Thank you very much
I was the shuttle driver and safety on a trip where the rafter missed the throw line and was overcome. She continued downstream for about 3 miles. One person spotted her on her way through Idaho Springs. She was on her back head under about 6" of water. Rescue was executed by the McDonalds on the East side of Idaho Springs. The Swim occurred just below Fall River road on a section known as The Stairs.
It was early season and really high water. It was over 1,000 CFS. They got stuck in a hydraulic and flipped. I was stationed with my throw bag ready just at the end of what is basically a fish ladderdownstream because a flip in that section is really bad as it leads into the Phoenix Hole. You do not want to swim in Phoenix.
Anyway the current was really moving. I threw the bag downstream of her by about 15-20 feet. She reached for the rope but went under and came up about 20' downstream of the rope. She was out of my reach and moving way faster than I could run.
I immediately grabbed my phone and called 911. The EMS in Clear Creek County is top notch. and a rescue operation was quickly. I heard the sirens as soon as I got of the phone with 911. The had sight of her going through town. She was floating on her back with her head under water.
She stopped breathing for 45 minutes and they had to do CPR on her. She spent a few days in the hospital. I was told that she showed no signs of brain damage from not breathing for close to an hour. Something about the temperature of the water kept her from having rain damage.
I interviewed with the Division of Wildlife. Because she stopped breathing, they wanted a report. The Officers told me that I had done everything right. From where I was standing, to my throw,
I stopped driving Shuttle at the end of that season. I kept looking at customers and wonder if they would be at the take out.
Two points: My 40 year experience with conducting and teaching rescue techniques has convinced me that even practiced people with throw bags are only 10% accurate in getting a rope to a swimmer about 30 feet away and children do not have the mental maturity to be trusted to keep their feet up.
I highly disagree with your percentage, and I take offense at you insulting professional guides. I don't know where you're from or where you teach but from my experiences it's more like 70-80% from such a short distance.
I've been a professional river guide for 45+ years on Class 4-5 rivers in NC, TN, GA, WV, MD, AZ, ID, and CO. I've guided with some top notch guides that I trust with my life. I've also been a private boater on the same waters. Personally, I can only remember missing about 2 or 3 swimmers and they were about 50-60 feet away in rapidly moving water.
I will agree that there are some "guides" and boating clubs that aren't very accurate. I've sat in the Eddy below Lesser Wesser on the Nantahala and witnessed the insanity of 10-12 ropes being tossed at the same time for one swimmer. Those are the people your comment should be directed towards. It's scary when 4-5 ropes are coming across your boat...
Thank you very much
Have you considered using a catapult. I go backpacking and I have to throw a rock bag over high tree limbs, and getting it right had been a problem. I solved my problem with a catapult. I have a hiking stick, which is just a mop stick, cut to 45 inches long. I tie a loop on the rope that just fits around the diameter of the stick, ten inches down the rope is the rock bag, then the rest of the line. Then you swing the stick and throw the rock bag and the loop slides off the stick. It is a manual catapult. This gives you more power and directional control. Try using a mop stick catapult with your throw rope.
Not feasible on the river...