[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - Drowning Determined As Cause of Crystal Rapid Fatality]

[Thomas Robey]

RRFW Riverwire -- Drowning Determined As Cause of Crystal Rapid Fatality

May 27, 2007

 

A fatality at Crystal Rapid on March 30, 2007 has been determined to be 
a drowning.

 

Marc Allred, 62 years old, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was rowing the 
Colorado River in Grand Canyon with 11 other people when the accident 
occurred. Reports indicate that the group of 6 rafts and a kayaker 
scouted and then ran the rapid, with Mr. Allred in last position. 
Although his raft did not flip, he was thrown into the turbulent water 
of the first hole while attempting to run the right side. His passenger 
was also thrown from the boat but was rescued unharmed.

 

An initial toxicology report showed an abnormally high level of alcohol, 
but according to Dr. Lawrence Czarnecki, Coconino County Medical 
Examiner, the reported level was so elevated that it would have caused 
death due to alcohol poisoning even before arrival at Crystal Rapid. 
This finding prompted a 2^nd toxicology study which ruled out alcohol or 
drugs as a contributing cause of Mr. Allred's death. A cardiac arrest or 
laryngeal spasm (where breathing does not resume even after surfacing) 
was also ruled out.

 

Mr. Allred was well-outfitted, wearing a type III life jacket, wetsuit, 
neoprene booties and a spray jacket at the time of the incident.

 

Crystal Rapid holds the record as the most lethal rapid in Grand Canyon, 
with a total of 6 fatalities split evenly between commercial and self 
guided trips. "This may be due to the long swim potential with temporary 
entrapment in the Crystal hole" notes Dr. Tom Myers, co-author of /Over 
the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon/, and an avid river runner himself.

 

In an unrelated incident, 67 year old Donald Keyes suffered a fatal 
heart attack Saturday May 19^th , 2007, while hiking in Saddle Canyon. 

 

Keyes, a retired curator for the Georgia Museum of Art and resident of 
Athens, GA, was on the second day of a commercial river trip when he 
suffered sudden cardiac arrest in the Saddle Canyon Narrows. He was 
pronounced dead on the scene by a cardiologist who was also on the trip.

 

The river party had hiked roughly one half mile from the river and 
climbed 400 feet in elevation to gain access to the popular Narrows. 
According to National Park Service representatives, Keyes had a history 
of heart trouble, and extrication of Keyes' body was complicated by high 
winds at the time. 

 

River Runners for Wilderness extends our deepest sympathy to the 
friends, family and fellow trip participants of these river runners and 
also urges the utmost caution while navigating Crystal Rapid.

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