The helicopter for Slim Ray

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This is a shot of the helicopter landing at Groove Tube on July 15th, 1991 to airlift Slim Ray to Mission Hospital after his back injury at Sunshine. The MAMA helicopters will no longer land in the gorge and this flight was touch-and-go to say the least --- apparently pruning branches both on the way in and on the way out.

To read the accident report on AW, click here.

Slim Ray, who was paralyzed from the waist down in the accident, went on to become an impressive advocate and educator around safety issues in whitwater paddlesports, writing the well-known book River Rescue with co-author Les Bechtel and available from http://www.cfspress.com/.

Backboard: A series of other major and minor injuries have occured at Sunshine over the years, including another evac. (from a broken back) in the Summer of 2009 which required a backboard to be brought into the gorge by local EMS personnel. There is now a backboard designed and built by Green boaters located near Sunshine in the event of its use being necessary in the future. Most Green regulars know where it's located....if you don't know, then ask someone. This backboard was used during the 2010 Green Race to carry out an intrepid paddler with a punctured lung, and there was some initial confusion as to its whereabouts. Make sure you know where it is, and tell others about it.

Time 2009-08-11 00:41:00 GMT
Reported Date 08/11/09
River Reported @Green 2. Green Narrows
Reporter
Author of report
John Pilson
Asheville, NC
River
Green [NC]
Gauge

Disclaimer Data Sources

Green-Narrows of the Green (AW#38266)

1.5 r.c. 127d21h23m

Green-Narrows of the Green (AW#38266)

7.1 in/yr 2y163d17h05m

Green-Narrows of the Green (AW#38266)

100.0 % 1y96d01h54m

Green-Narrows of the Green (AW#38266)

8 inches 26d01h54m

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The helicopter for Slim Ray

Detail Trip Report  The helicopter for Slim Ray  @Green 2. Green Narrows, (634.57KB .jpeg)


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