Fatality on the Kicking Horse River - News Release

NEWS RELEASE

Golden, B.C.  7:00 PM MST, June 23, 2012 -  Glacier Raft Company Limited of Golden reported this afternoon that a passenger on one of its rafts died when the raft turned over on the Kicking Horse River, approximately 15-20km east of Golden.

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 PM MST.  Each raft carried 8 passengers, plus one guide.  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.  It normally carries 2,000 – 3,000 passengers each year on the Kicking Horse and other rivers in the region. 

-30-

For further information, please contact:

Keith Davis

Davis Communications Group

Office: (403) 201-5122

Cellular:  (403) 630-1983

Email:  daviscomm@shaw.ca

Or

Golden RCMP :250 344 2221