Accident Database

Report ID# 117606

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  • Foot Entrapment
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Accident Description

On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 Kelsey Helfrich wrote:
 
I believe that Wildcat is technically classified as a 3 however at low water it seems to be one of the toughest spots on the river for many boaters.  I would say it is more of a 4.  One issue that I have found is that the book is a little deceiving, suggesting that people can run either side of the island however that left side gets very tricky for boaters at certain flows.  This boat had run left of the island and got wrapped right where the bad sieve is.
 
I wanted to let you know that there was a drowning at Wildcat Rapid (on the Rogue River in Oregon) today. It was a member of a private group. My gear boatman came on the scene right as everything was happening and my drift boat crew was there shortly after.
 
The man slipped out of the boat during their attempts to get unstuck. He being sucked down into the sieve and his nephew was trying to keep him above water.  They were able to place an oar across the two rocks that create the sieve and the man was able to hold onto it for a while.  The force of the water in this place is very powerful and it was difficult for him to hold on.  At some point they believe that his leg may have broke from the force and he then went under water.  People on the bank were working to get out to the boat and giving them instructions however they could not safely make it to the boat in time. 
 
The body of the deceased was still in the rapid as of this evening. It was a foot entrapment. Search and rescue has been notified and I assume a recovery effort will begin tomorrow morning if it hasn’t already. The body (with a green lifejacket) can be seen periodically as the river surges in that spot. I wanted to be sure to let outfitters know so that you can warn your guides or other floaters before they arrive at the rapid.
 
My heart breaks for everyone involved and the family of the deceased. Stay safe out there.
 
Josephine County Sheriff's Office
 
PRESS RELEASE: DROWNING INCIDENT
LOCATION: Wildcat Rapids
CASE NUMBER: 23-24797
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: Sept 28th, 2023, 4:27 PM
REPORTING DEPUTY: Marine Deputy Wolfe
 
DETAILS: On Thursday Sept 28th, 2023 at 4:27 PM, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office was notified via Satellite phone of a drowning that occurred at Wild Cat Rapids in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. Information provided to 911 indicated a group of 11 people, with 5 rafts total, were navigating the Wild and Scenic section of the river when one of the rafts got stuck in the middle of Wildcat Rapids approximately 5 miles below Grave Creek Boat Ramp. While trying to free the raft, the victim slipped on a rock and fell into the water. Due to the swift and dangerous water, the victim was immediately pushed into a large “strainer” made by two large rocks. David Bartecchi, a 46 year old male from Colorado, was pinned to the side of the rock under water. Several people in the group attempted to pull him out, however, due to the pressure of the water they were unable to.
 
Rescue crews from the Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Bureau of Land Management responded to the incident. During the recovery, the river was shut down due to several rope systems being set up across the river. A BLM raft with a rescue team inside was hooked to a pulley system and was pulled upriver to a large rock in the middle of Wild Cat Rapids. Due to the extremely swift water and slick rock, rescue teams were unable to get direct access to Bartecchi. Rescue teams utilized long poles and rope systems in the attempt to recover Bartecchi, however, the swift water pulled him under the rock and down river.
 
Search efforts were called off around 8:30 PM Thursday and resumed Friday at 7:00 AM. Again, the search effort was called off after multiple hours of searching. Bartecchi is still missing at the time of this release and next of kin has been notified. Further details will be provided as they become available.
 
 
 
Bartecci's body was found 11 days later.
https://www.kdrv.com/news/rogue-river-rafters-body-recovered-in-josephine-county-was-missing-11-days/article_d5e13152-6885-11ee-b5f3-f39d0f38ec3e.html

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