On Wednesday april 28, 2010 at approximately 12:45 pm male kayaker and female kayaker launched individual kayaks into the belle fourche river near the confluence of the redwater river and belle fourche river.  They intended to kayak from that location to where they had left a vehicle down stream (they had left a vehicle along the belle fourche river where it crosses under olson cut-off road).  Male kayaker and female kayaker were not wearing personal floatation devices (pfd’s).   Nor did they have any with them at the time.   They kayaked down stream until they arrived at the diversion dam.  At this location water can be diverted from the belle fourche river to orman dam (aka belle fourche reservoir).  The kayakers went to shore to investigate options for going around the dam structure.  At approximately 1:30 pm they made the decision to operate their kayaks through the diversion spillway. 
The female kayaker was the first to go over the spillway.  Her boat was overturned by the turbulent water and undertow at the base of the spillway.  The male kayaker then operated his kayak over the spillway.  When he saw female kayaker out of her kayak and going under water he exited his kayak to rescue her.  Both persons were overwhelmed by the turbulent water for what female kayaker believed to be approximately 20 minutes.  
After relaxing her body the current took female kayaker down stream and away from the turbulent water.  Once she regained her composure she saw the male kayaker about 50 feet down stream face down.   Once she got to him, she believed him to be unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse.  Female kayaker does not know how long male kayaker was unconscious but believes it to have been 5 minutes or longer.  Female kayaker did cpr on male kayaker for 15 to 20 minutes until be began breathing on his own.  
At approximately 3:00 pm female kayaker was able to contact butte county 911 to report the incident.  Butte county deputies, the belle fourche vfd and the belle fourche ambulance services responded.  
On thursday april 29th butte county deputys informed wildlife conservation officer (wco) of the incident.  He provided wco with shift report and accident victim information.
On friday april 30th wco and blm ranger met with male and female kayaker.  An audio taped interview was completed.

BELLE FOURCHE                 