This year's paddling season got off to a tragic start as 65 year old Dr. Steven Senior of Bridgenorth, near Peterborough died on March 11 on a Class IV rapid on the Little River in Tennessee. Dr. Senior was attending Ain't Louie Fest, an annual Spring Break paddling event that brings together some of the best open boaters from the US & Canada to run some classic whitewater in the Great Smokies. He came out of his canoe on running a ledge, swam, and was swept downstream over another ledge. He experienced a foot entrapment at the base of this ledge, holding him underwater. In spite of heroic efforts by the highly trained crew of paddlers with him, it was 37 minutes before he could be extricated. He had vital signs on recovery but subsequently died in hospital.
Some of you who paddle at the Gull may have met Dr. Senior there.
We extend our sincerest condolences to the family.
There is video footage from a local television station, as well as a full accident report on the American Whitewater website.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Fellow-boaters-rescue-Can…
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/36…