Two men paddled in the Cle Elum River in some slow water near the Cooper River Bridge using a 12 ft inflatable Coleman kayak.    After about 10 minutes of doing this they got off the river.  About an hour later they decided to get back on the river.

They decided to float from the Cooper River Bridge downstream to the French Cabin Creek Bridge.  Both of them had floated this section before and were confident in their abilties.  Operator was wearing a lifejacket and was in the back of the kayak; Occupant was not wearing a lifejacket and was in the front of the kayak.  

Shortly after they put on the river they approached a rock in the middle of the river that created two channels.  Operator wanted to go to the right of the rock but they were forced to the left.  As they went through the left channel the kayak was swamped with water as they floated through the channel.  The kayak then spun around backwards and flipped.  Operator and Occupant became separated. Operator was able to stay with the kayak and Occupant became separated from the kayak.  

Operator and Occupant began swimming towards the west side of the river.  Operator was able to grab a branch that was hanging over the river and Occupant grabbed the same branch.  As the branch began to bow under their weight, Operator let go and grabbed another branch that was down stream and was able to pull himself to shore.  When he looked back for Occupant he was not there and the sheriff's office was called.  His body was not found by searchers who walked the river that evening and the next day.

Ronald                        