Vessel - 2012, 13'8" Inflatable Raft - Creature Craft/Generation   

During the investigation of the incident, it was determined Operator and his adult son (name unknown) had joined the "Creature Craft" rafting group on a trek to the Leavenworth area to float the class 4 and 5+ rapids on the Wenatchee River in Tumwater Canyon.  The rafts being used on 5/25/2013 were single person vessels equipped with a thigh strap (Velcro fastening) that secures the operator to the seat and the vessel attaching over the upper thighs of the operator. 
  
On 05/25/2013, at about 4:09 pm, it was reported that Operator had just been ejected out of his vessel while on the Wenatchee River in Tumwater Canyon near milepost 94 of State Highway 2.  Operator's Creature Craft raft was seen by witnesses roll to the side while he was navigating a class 5+ rapid near milepost 96 of the highway.  Operator was seen coming out of his thigh harness while nearly inverted in the rapids.  Witnesses stated that after being ejected, Operator was observed attempting to swim downstream through the rapids, but they lost sight of him shortly after in the white water. 

A member of the "Creature Craft" group had staged himself in calmer water downstream of the second extreme rapids in anticipation of any fellow rafters having a problem above.  That witness observed Operator's raft float to an eddy area on the west shoreline empty.  Other "Creature Craft" rafters traveling behind Operator were advised of the situation and began searching for him.   

At about 4:15 pm, fellow rafters located Operator unconscious and unresponsive in an eddy downriver near the west bank of the river.  They immediately pulled Operator into another raft and initiated CPR.  Operator was floated to the east side of the river near the highway so that emergency personnel could access him.  Medics responded and continued lifesaving efforts on the east bank of the river.  Operator was transported to Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth, WA.  At 5:26 pm, Operator was confirmed deceased.  Operator was wearing a personal flotation device, wet suit, and helmet at the time of the accident and were still attached when he was retrieved from the river.   

The fellow rafters stated that they had made numerous attempts on both 5/24 and 5/25 to try and talk Operator out of attempting to float the 5+ rapids of the river in his raft.  They felt that Operator did not have the proper experience to float the class + rapids, nor did they feel his physical condition was such to swim the river if needed.  (Operator was 6-02 in height and nearly 300lbs in weight.) 

No injuries / 1 Fatality 
There was no apparent alcohol involvement. 
There were no damages reported. 
The victim was wearing a Type IV PFD. 
The victim did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card - Exempt by age. 
There were no Rules of the Road violations.
Leavenworth