rcwild
06-30-2005, 09:27 AM
A group was doing a class C canyon and came to a short climbing problem. While attempting the climb, one member of the group lost her footing and slipped into the water. Her spotter was unable to grab her in time and she became totally submerged. The spotter was alarmed that she did not pop back up immediately and started sweeping the bottom with his foot. He located her position, grabbed her and tried to pull her up, but met resistance. It required a great deal of effort to bring her to the surface. Witnesses estimated that she was under water for approximately 1.5 minutes. It is unclear what was holding her under, but assumed that a piece of gear was wedged into a crack or a loop of webbing/cord was looped over a rock.
If not for the quick thinking of her spotter, the incident could have been fatal.
Lesson to be learned: Gear carried on harness should be kept to a minimum and racked as neatly as possible to minimize chances of it becoming stuck on rock, branches, in cracks, etc.
See Racking Gear (http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?t=263)
If not for the quick thinking of her spotter, the incident could have been fatal.
Lesson to be learned: Gear carried on harness should be kept to a minimum and racked as neatly as possible to minimize chances of it becoming stuck on rock, branches, in cracks, etc.
See Racking Gear (http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?t=263)