River Drowning · July 2, 2011
Accident Report for South Mineral Creek
Mineral Creek, South Fork · South Mineral Creek · Class V to V+
Accident Details
- Number of people injured
- —
- Number of fatalities
- 1
- Number of people involved (or in party)
- —
- Accident date
- July 2, 2011
- Accident type
- River Drowning
- Coordinates
- 37.79928755, -107.78293739
- Was search and rescue called or needed?
- No
- Did this accident involve a commercial outfitter or guide?
- No
- Water flow at the time of the accident
- —
Accident Description
Kayaker drowns in Mineral Creek
By Mark Esper
Silverton Standard
Article Last Updated: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 11:12pm
A26-year-old kayaker drowned Saturday afternoon in South Mineral Creek in San Juan County, said San Juan County Coroner Keri Metzler.
Kevin Bair of Phoenix got caught in Caldron Rapids, Metzler said.
“He rolled once, then he half-rolled a second time,” Metzler said. “And that time he got lodged between two rocks” in a narrow canyon.
Metzler said Bair suffered a head injury with “lots of bleeding” that may have knocked him out.
An autopsy Tuesday found drowning to be the cause of death.
“He was probably knocked unconscious, and that’s why he couldn’t free himself,” Metzler said.
Metzler said Bair had about six years of kayaking experience. He was pronounced dead at 4:04 p.m. Saturday.