On 7/2/23, at approx 13:31 hrs, a boating incident occurred on the north toe river that resulted in a fatality.  While navigating a section of the north toe river approximately one mile down river from the penland post office, a large tree fell striking a canoe and a kayak.  

The kayak was being operated by a minor.  At the time of the incident subject1 stated that he heard something on the left side of the riverbank.  He stated that he thought it was a bear that was moving along the bank on the left side of the river.  He would go on to say that before he could react, a large tree had fallen on the canoe that he and subject2 was in.    The tree pinned him and subject2 in the canoe and the only thing he could move was his left arm.  With his left arm being free, he remembered that his cell phone was in the front compartment of his life jacket.  Being able to access his cell phone he called 911.  Once first responders arrived on scene, they had to cut both free of the debris in order to render first aid.  

The kayak that was being operated by a minor was hit by the top of the tree.  Subject1 and the minor suffered severe injuries resulting from the incident.  Subject1 was transported by helicopter to mission hospital while the minor was transported to mission hospital by ground transport.  Subject2 was pronounced deceased on scene.  Because of the severe injuries that the operator sustained when the large tree fell on the vessel that he was in.  We were unable to obtain a 4.1 from the operator.  Although a 4.1 was not received, we have all of the pertinent information that is needed for this investigation.



N TOE RIVER
SPRUCE PINE                   