Crew of rubber ducky survive river dunking
From staff reports, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
July 13, 2009
Grand Teton National Park rangers rescued a 40-year-old California man and his 15-year-old son from the Snake River on Friday evening after the pair’s “rubber ducky” raft sank.
Contrary to park regulations, neither of the floaters had a life vest when they set out on their ill-fated tour from Deadman’s Bar. Officials called their craft “a petite, swimming pool-style inflatable raft.” Experienced boaters call such inflatables rubber duckies.
Despite warnings from professional boatmen at the launch site, Byron Thames, of Los Angeles, and his son set off for Wilson, a trip of 25 miles. They picked up two sticks to use as paddles after boatmen warned them they needed something to maneuver through the braided channels ahead.
Officials gave the following account of their pin-ball journey down the twisting river.
Within several miles of their 2:30 p.m. launch, something punctured the side of the dinghy. That left only the floor air chamber inflated.
The Thameses floated past Menor’s Ferry and tried to pull out at the Moose landing, but couldn’t reach the bank with their makeshift paddles. The Snake’s current, running at least 6,300 cubic feet per second at that location, pushed them beyond the Moose Bridge.
About a mile and a half down river, the pair floated into the left channel, known as Bourbon Street. An obstruction caught the rubber ducky, tossing the two into the current.
A tangle of branches from a submerged tree caught Byron Thames and pinned him underwater until he fought free. He made his way upstream to his son who was clinging to a logjam.
The older Thames then used his cell phone to call his wife who, in turn, called for help. Rangers received the distress message about 5:55 p.m.
They launched a rescue and found the two about 6:40 p.m. A total of 21 park personnel and Teton interagency firefighters responded.
Rangers had to use advanced river rescue techniques to reach the two. Such efforts frequently involve rafts and ropes and are dangerous because of the potential for people to be caught by obstructions and pinned underwater by the current.
Rangers put a rescuer in the current to reach each floater, one at a time. They completed the rescue at 9 p.m.
Both Thameses had early stages of hypothermia by the time they were rescued, but were not seriously injured and refused medical treatment.
Rangers issued each a ticket for not having life jackets and failing to obtain a park boat permit.
Boaters are required to have a certified personal flotation device for all people on the water craft and to obtain proper permits.
The section of the Snake River running from Deadmans’ Bar to Moose is technical, meaning navigation skills and an ability to read water currents and recognize obstructions are vital.
