On 6/16/11 at 14:47 the Custer County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a boat passenger using a satellite phone.  The passenger advised the dispatcher that there had been a fatality at the Boundary creek area on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  He said a private float trip had launched and a 47-year old male was deceased.
The Custer County Marine Deputy was notified at 14:58, she in turn contacted the Middle Fork River Ranger.  The River Ranger informed the Marine Deputy that a boat had gone through Murph's Hole 7 miles down from the Boundary Creek Boat Launch.  This hole, at 6 foot, has violent hydraulics that is known to wash people out and flip boats.  The river level at this time was 6'6", 9,000 cfs according to the USGS.  The water temperature was approximately 38 degrees ferenheit.  The River Ranger and the Custer County Coroner flew in to retrieve the body of the 47-year old male victim.  Upon the arrival of the plane, the Marine Deputy inpected the body and found the victim had been wearing a full wet suit, including boots and gloves.  He had splash gear over the suit that had been removed, and a type V adult white water PFD on.  The PFD fit properly and was in good working order.
The Marine Deputy interviewed the passenger.  He said that he had been on the boat with the victim, rowing, when the accident occurred at approximately 13:15.  The passenger stated that the current pulled them into the waves above Murph's Hole and they ended up sideways.  They hydraulics were violent and seemed to hold them there for a brief time.  When the boat passed thru the hole, the operator looked back and saw the victim in the water.  He appeared conscious but was not tying to swim.  He said that the victim was in the water for around 5 minutes before he was retrieved down river by others in their party.  The passenger had taken over the oars and was caught in a back eddy for several minutes.  He saw CPR being performed on the victim down river.
The passenger said that the victim (the operator) had changed to a different oar lock system and was nervous about running the Middle Fork.  The victim had experience on multiple rivers and had been white water rafting since he was 15 years old.
After interviewing the river ranger the following day, it was discovered that the victims boat was an W 1550 NRS 15'5" inflatable self bailing white water boat.  The equipment was newer and in good working order.  All the boats in the group were loaded heavy.
On 6/19/11, the marine deputy interviewed a witness that had been in the lead boat (the victims boat was the second one behind them).  The witness indicated that she was watching the victim as he approached the rapid.  The victim was a little right of where he should be, and stopped rowing above the hole.  The victim had the oars in the water several feet above the start of the rapid but was not rowing.  The boat went through the hole and was not quite straight.  The witness said that the victim "just rolled out of the boat into the water".  The witness stated that he was under water, after falling overboard, for no more than 20 seconds.  It was indicated that while he was in the water he did not attempt to swim and was "just looking around".  At one point the witness tried to grab the victim, but missed.  A throw rope was thrown right next to him but on neither occasion the victim did not attempt to grab on.
The witness said that she watched as the victim truned sideways with the river, his head went back with his eyes open.  Boaters yelled at him trying to get him to shore.  A doctor was on the trip, he performed CPR for approximately 45 minutes.

Stanley                       