The Kettle River through Minnesota's Banning State Park is a popular Class III run characterized by low ledges, holes, and a fe midstream rocks. In the late summer of 1982 Paul DeBoer launched an open canoe with his wife Patty. At Blueberry slide Patty, a nonswimmer, chose to walk around as Paul, encouraged by other paddlers, decided to run it.After scouting, he ran down the right. The canoe broached in the drop, and Paul, who was not wearing a PFD, attempted to pull the canoe ashore. Eventually he was swept downstream, never to be seen again.Failing to wear a PFD is the causes more deaths on whitewater rivers than any other single factor. With a well-fitted life vest and a few friends standing by this would have been just another day on the river for everyone.
