American Whitewater Accident Database

09/12/2026

The Whitewater Accident Summary for January through June, 2026 is now available on the American Whitewater web site. Since facebook has been limiting my sharing abilities, PLEASE SHARE this post. Thanks!! https://www.americanwhitewater.org/explore/safety/accident-database/biannual-accident-summaries/

06/11/2026

This page is not being updated. My apologies. A FB glitch sends everyone who clicks on an item a text message from me. A big time waster!!

06/01/2026

A family of 5 kayakers washed into a strainer on Ohio’s Licking River on May 31st. A 15-year-old girl was pinned underwater and died. Rescuers were able to help the others.
https://www.wtrf.com/news/ohio-headlines/girl-15-dies-after-being-pulled-from-licking-river/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WTRF_7News&fbclid=IwY2xjawSK8mxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGSVFSV3c5Z2swcU5nSGlUc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtB9eQDy49iKHcZg3f6Auur4pY3hRWWGj459WrdS9drbW1SPLfmbVxSzig1A_aem_YWdncwCqAIUnby7qgpl7u44rCVXC&brid=YWdncwGYUHxEhwnEX1YcBFsFd7tJ

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) — A 15-year-old girl died Sunday after being pulled from the Licking River in Madison Township. According to Madison Township Fire Chief Nick Garver, crews were …

05/30/2026

I'm not sure what Facebook is up to, but a number of people who click on posts are automatically sending messages to me. Don't worry about this. I'm ignoring them. If you need to reach Charlie Walbridge on a safety or accident issue, please contavt him on his personal page. Thanks.

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05/29/2026

Commercial rafting death; Lehigh River; Jim Thorpe to Bowmanstown section; Class I, 1200 cfs at Lehighton; school trip; a raft with 5 people pined on a strainer; a 12-year-old died.

05/27/2026

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/i-couldve-lost-my-leg-star-man-recovering-boise-whitewater-park-surfing-accident/277-7d70ccb0-feec-484a-8be1-cadd599a8416

Travis Stidam, from Star, is recovering after a surfing accident at Boise’s Whitewater Park led to a rare and serious medical condition.

05/25/2026

Rescue story from yesterday in West Virginia. At lower levels this river has a few small rapids. There was a lot of rain there in the areaand the Cacapon River Near Great Cacapon, WV rose from 500 cfs to 7100 cfs; from 2.5 to 8.5 feet
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17PPG1pKY1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A routine Boy Scout river trip turned into a rescue mission when floodwaters trapped 28 scouts along the Cacapon River in West Virginia Saturday.

05/25/2026

A raft flipped in Class II Ramcat Rapids on the Youghiogheny River below Confluence, PA yesterday, putting 6–7 people in the water. The Yough was running high, at 5.8 feet. First responders were called to assist the group, which was spread out over several miles of river, A 5 year-old was life flighted out. I'm looking for additional information.

At least one person was flown to the hospital, and several others were treated at the scene.

05/14/2026

We have an excellent first person account of the April 4th death on Vermont's Lamoille River and the heroic rescue attempt by her partner.

Report written by Maddie Clark

05/13/2026

A report on the May 5th strainer death on Marsh Creek is now on the AW Accident Database. The man flipped and washed under a large log. His tow tether caught on the log and held him under. I strongly recommend not wearing a tow tether on creeks and other areas where downed trees are a problem. The impact with the tree was violent and there may have been a head injury.

The American Whitewater Accident Database catalogs over 1600 fatalities and close calls on whitewater rivers dating back to 1972. The project was initiated