Kayak White Water Rescue

Many years ago I and my friends paddled a white water river in Wales. I'm thinking it was the Afon Llugwy as I remember parking in the layby on the A5. I may be wrong though!

It was a pleasant paddle of grade 2 to 3 on a rocky, narrow river.

We bumped into a group of students also paddling on the river. They were being led by an 'experienced' guide from the university kayak club.

We were on the bank inspecting the next fall. A tricky 5 foot drop into a small pool. As we watched, the guide paddled around the corner and towards the fall.

The group were about 20 metres behind him and, luckily, in slower moving water.

The guide had not paddled this river before and had no idea what this fall was like.

The flow of the water was too fast for him to turn back and he had no choice but to run the fall.

He approached the fall and tipped over the lip. The nose of the kayak lodged between some rocks.

The kayak was now pinned vertically and water was pouring over the top of the guide. The water force was such that he could not push himself up to get out of the kayak.

My paddling partners and I had throwlines and we began to help him. I threw the throwline rope across to my friend on the other side. We then carefully moved down the river to 'catch' the end of the kayak on the rope.

It took two attempts before we were able to move the kayak with the rope. It fell forward into the pool and the guide exited the kayak.

The rest of the group had moved to the bank and got out (wisely I think).

Speaking to the guide and the group afterwards, they all agreed that they were unprepared for this trip.

They had not inspected the river and did not have the skills to safely complete the trip.

So... always inspect the river ahead and only paddle within your capability.

Stay safe.

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