Rafter dies on Kicking Horse River Saturday
By Nelson Daily Staff
One person has died in a rafting accident Saturday afternoon on the Kicking Horse River approximately 15-20 kilometers east of Golden.
The Glacier Raft Company Limited of Golden reported Saturday on its website that a passenger on one of its rafts died when the raft turned over on the Kicking Horse River.
The raft was one of a group of five that was navigating a rapid in the Middle Canyon section of the river at approximately 3:10 p.m. MST.
Each raft carried eight passengers, plus one guide.
The release on the website said guides from the other four rafts in the group quickly recovered the all passengers from the river.
Unfortunately, one person was unresponsive when pulled from the river and although the trained guides actively attempted resuscitation while awaiting the arrival of a rescue helicopter, the person could not be revived.
The Kicking Horse River is currently experiencing high-water conditions due to spring run-off, but conditions were within safe operating guidelines and were not deemed to expose rafters to undue risk.
Glacier Raft Company is located in Golden and has been in operation for more than 30 years.
The company normally carries 2,000 – 3,000 passengers each year on the Kicking Horse and other rivers in the region.
