Some club members went for one last run, putting in just below the Kettle, about three fingers and 'hole in the wall' drops. at the put in, they notice two sorry looking folks on the far bank. After about 10 minutes, the kayakers come to the horrifying realization that they ONLY way these fellows could have got there was THRU THE KETTLE. Make me shutter just to think of it!
(PS, apparently SAR techs took great joy in bursting the raft with their knives...)

Newspaper article here:
Father and son cheat death

By ROBERT MANGELSDORF

Aug 13 2007

A Surrey man and his 13 year-old son are lucky to be alive after they were pulled from a treacherous section of the Clearwater River on Aug. 5.

The two were reportedly trying to raft down the river in a store-bought inflatable dinghy, and were unaware of the deadly rapids that lay ahead. The pair lost their raft and became stuck in an eddy in a section of the river called the “Kettle,” about 10 kilometres upriver from Clearwater.

The area is home to deadly class five and class six rapids (the highest rating), which only the world’s most experienced kayakers and rafters dare attempt.

A number of kayakers from Vancouver who were portaging around the vicious section of whitewater noticed the pair desperately clinging to the steep rocky bank of the river and called search and rescue.

The father, 42, was not wearing a life preserver.

RCMP, Search and Rescue, and B.C. Ambulance worked in conjunction with river guides from Interior Whitewater Expeditions and Riverside Adventures, who used their knowledge, expertise and equipment to perform the rescue and bring the two to safety.

An RCMP helicopter was also on standby.

Riverside Adventures raft guide Michael Schadinger was on the scene helping with the rescue and couldn't believe the pair made it out alive.

\"It was remarkable they were unhurt,\" he said. \"They had no idea how much danger they put themselves in.\"

\"World class paddlers take a look at the Kettle and would think twice.\"

Schadinger described the raft the two were using as a \"toy.\"

Schadinger was impressed with the cooperation involved in the rescue, as was Clearwater RCMP Cst. Chris Newel ,who was on the scene.

“All persons involved should be commended for their quick response,” he said.

The pair were immediately treated by ambulance personnel and sustained only minor injuries.

Tiana Blouin of Riverside Adventures said the rapids are so deadly in the Kettle, that river rafting companies are not legally allowed to commercially operate on that section of the river, and must portage around it.

Blouin said the family should have known better before venturing into the river.

“The public needs to know that if you are going to put in on any river, you need to know the hazards on that river first,” she said.

chris71 wrote:

The father, 42, was not wearing a life preserver.

Well, no comment...

Interesting though, thanks for sharing Christian