On or about 1300 hrs, 17 March 2009, Operator 1 and Occupant 1 had taken Operator 1' canoe and entered the Elkhart River South of Plymouth Ave. in Goshen Indiana.  Recent rains caused major flooding, creating a interest in using local waterways.

Operator 1 and Occupant 1 loaded the canoe with a backpack and wearable floatation devices, with warm temperatures the canoeist decided not to wear PFD's.  After canoeing for 1.5 hours or so, Operator 1 and Occupant 1 canoed to the face of the Goshen Dam.  The Dam is a low head dam, water levels in the river were over 6 feet deep, water over the dam appeared to be 2 or more feet.  This volume of water caused a strong boil line to appear at the face of the dam.

As Operator 1 and Occupant 1 approached the dam the hydraulic action of the water caused the canoe to be drawn to the dam, this action caused the canoe to capsize.  Occupant 1 had been sitting in the bow of the canoe was pulled into the boil line, then Operator 1 was pulled into the boil line.  

Operator 1 told us during an interview that he had been pulled to the bottom of the river and bounced on the rocks and canoe.  Operator 1 felt he had been in the water tumbling for what he felt may have been several minutes.  Suddenly Operator 1 came to the surface and swam 20 feet or so to shore,  Operator 1 took several seconds to recover, noticed a unknown female on shore, and yelled to call 911 for a ambulance, the female did not have a phone and left to summon assistance.  Operator 1 turned to the river and noticed Occupant 1 had surfaced 20 feet into the river and 20 feet north of the dam, Operator 1 swam to Occupant 1 and brought him to shore, arriving at shore Operator 1 did notice that Occupant 1 wasn't breathing at that time the Goshen Paramedics and Goshen Police had arrived  

Both canoeist were taken to Goshen General Hospital, several blocks to the east of the dam,  Goshen Fire Department, Goshen Police Department and Officer Fodor and Officer 1 met with involved agencies, met at the scene.  Pictures were taken, at the scene and of the van that Operator 1 had driven to the site where the canoe had been launched.

Operator 1 had been treated for hypothermia (body temp 96 dgrs), Occupant 1 sustained head injuries, hypothermia (96 dgrs), and lung damage due to water intake.  Occupant 1 is in critical condition.  Family members have been notified.
Goshen                        