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River:	Cape Fear
Reach #:	Cape Fear [NC] Wildlife Road access near Lillington to NC 217 bridge near Erwin I-III med 00h46m [detail]
Section:	Wildlife Road access near Lillington to NC 217 bridge near Erwin
Accident Code(s):	Foot Entrapment
Injury Code(s):	Near Drowning
Private/Commercial:	Private
Boat Type:	Other
Boat Model:	River Surf Board
Number of Occupants:	1
Hazard Codes:	Blast rock, Low Head Dam, High Water, Hydraulic/Keeper Hole, Man-made Debris Strainer, Pin/Broach, Rocks that cause blunt trauma, Natural Strainer or Sieve, Water Temp, Waterfall
Detailed Description:	At about the same time Patrick Patterson, a “river surfer”, was using a board tethered to the NC 217 highway bridge over the Cape Fear River in Eastern North Carolina. After the rope broke unexpectedly, Patterson attempted to stand in the current and caught his leg on an obstruction. His friends tried to reach him quickly; but were not successful. David Wormaldi, a boy scout leader, then entered the river and tied a rope under Patterson’s arms. He then “treaded water” for over an hour to support Patterson until rescuers arrived.
Report Status:	Completed

River:

Cape Fear

Reach #:

Cape Fear [NC]

Wildlife Road access near Lillington to NC 217 bridge near Erwin I-III

med

00h46m

[detail]

Section:

Wildlife Road access near Lillington to NC 217 bridge near Erwin

Accident Code(s):

Foot Entrapment

Injury Code(s):

Near Drowning

Private/Commercial:

Private

Boat Type:

Other

Boat Model:

River Surf Board

Number of Occupants:

Hazard Codes:

Blast rock, Low Head Dam, High Water, Hydraulic/Keeper Hole, Man-made Debris Strainer, Pin/Broach, Rocks that cause blunt trauma, Natural Strainer or Sieve, Water Temp, Waterfall

Detailed Description:

At about the same time Patrick Patterson, a “river surfer”, was using a board tethered to the NC 217 highway bridge over the Cape Fear River in Eastern North Carolina. After the rope broke unexpectedly, Patterson attempted to stand in the current and caught his leg on an obstruction. His friends tried to reach him quickly; but were not successful. David Wormaldi, a boy scout leader, then entered the river and tied a rope under Patterson’s arms. He then “treaded water” for over an hour to support Patterson until rescuers arrived.

Report Status:

Completed

Accident Database: Accident #1148