http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=5baae38b-551d-4859-b858-94a7d932fe81&k=6968Racing trio rescued from icy Fraser river
Men 'risking hypothermia' in dangerous rapids
Ian Austin and Salim Jiwa, The Province
Published: Monday, January 29, 2007
Three people racing on the Fraser River were lucky to survive yesterday after their aluminum jet boat capsized in swift water near Saddle Rock, about 10 kilometres north of Yale.
Rescuers were called out at 1:15 p.m. to an extremely rugged section of the river, so cold that waterfalls were frozen solid along the river banks.
"There are lots of cliffs and lots of steep slopes," said RCMP Const. Bert Paquet. "It can be quite hazardous."
The boat overturned at a particularly nasty bend in the river, where Saddle Rock sits directly in the middle, with perilous boiling rapids on either side the only way through.
"The currents and the waves can be quite intense and unpredictable," said Paquet. "The water can be very, very cold. You're basically risking hypothermia as soon as you hit the water.
"It's dangerous any time of the year, but especially in winter."
Two of the men managed to swim to shore, while a third was caught in the current and sent hurtling downstream through a series of rapids before also making his way to shore.
He was found by rescuers lying on a beach downstream, and all three were whisked away by ambulance to Fraser Canyon Hospital in Hope for treatment of hypothermia.
"This time of the year you have to know how to run the river," said Hope Search and Rescue officer Oran Alexander. "The water is low and you get shallow areas and the current and that can turn you over pretty good."
The three men, one carrying an inflated life-jacket, were released from hospital shortly before 6 p.m.
Bundled up in warm clothing, the trio looked shaken by their ordeal.
They had nothing to say about the crash when approached by The Province at the hospital.
A woman came to collect the three survivors, who quickly bundled into a van and drove away.
Chilliwack Search and Rescue and other units including a helicopter were called out, said Alexander.
He said the three men were competing in the Fraser Canyon Boat Run, organized by TNT Marine, a builder of aluminum jet-powered boats.
"We will be running from Island 22 to Yale and leaving the launch at 8 a.m. We enjoy spending time with our customers on the water and we look forward to seeing you there," said a promotional bulletin on TNT Marine's website. "Let's get out and have some fun! Anyone with a jet boat is welcome."
Alexander said the organizers failed to alert Search and Rescue so it would be aware of the event and be prepared for any mishaps.
"We were not informed until we got a call from the RCMP the previous night," he said.
No one from TNT Marine could be reached for comment yesterday.
sjiwa@png.canwest.comiaustin@png.canwest.com© The Vancouver Province 2007
I`m glad all are safe and sound. The article is a bit confusing stating that the boat was competing in the event, also confusing is the fact the boat was at Saddle Rock, a nasty piece of business that is past Yale. I thought the event called for a destination of Yale.
People who drive boats should always be wearing their life jackets. It is amazing to be boating on the Fraser River or sitting on the banks watching the countless number of boats travel by with hardly anyone wearing them.
Cheers
Nuggy
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Topic: Jet Boat Sinking In Fraser Canyon (Read 3187 times)