NEWS REPORT:  The 70-yo body was recovered by the Salmon River Dive Team (SRDT) and the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) just downstream from the New Lucile boat ramp about 4:30 pm Tuesday, September 17. According to a Dive Team member, a passing motorist alerted authorities about the body. 

The ICSO and SRDT were called out on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 13, to a boating accident in Fiddle Creek Rapid, known by some as Ladder Creek Rapid, about six miles downriver from Riggins. This rapid cannot be seen from the highway. The Idaho County Free Press reports that according to an ICSO report, three men went fishing in a drift boat. Victim who had been rowing hit rocks and grew tired. Operator, 50, took over just before Ladder Creek Rapid. He lost an oar, hit a rock, and the boat rolled. Occupant3, 26, the third companion was the only one wearing a life jacket. Occupant3 and Operator clung to the boat. A life jacket was tossed to Victim who grabbed it. Then the drift boat sunk, Occupant3 and Operator swam to the highway side of the shore. 

They saw Victim near the far bank about 100 yards downstream. Victim then tried to swim back towards the highway side. Operator ran down the highway to get ahead, but lost sight of him before he got to the fruit stand. Responding ICSO Deputy spotted Victim at milepost 201 “face down, showing no signs of movement, on the far side of the river….” 

When the SRDT arrived Victim was floating face down just above Black Rock Rapid according to a Dive team member. This spot is two miles below Ladder Creek Rapid. The SRDT quickly deployed their rescue raft below the Black Rock as they could not reach him before. Victim’ body sunk in the rapids and the SRDT was unable to find him. The river was still muddy from a string of thunderstorms and blowouts in the Salmon River drainage.   Interviews revealed that two people had had a couple beers.
Lucille