Kayak Death LeGore Bridge Monocacy River

[Steve6902]

Just announced on WMAL 630 am that a kayaker has drowned at the LeGore bridge on the Monocacy river. They are stating that is was do to the flooding and the swift river conditions. Sad.

[gtrfan]

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-new...near-frederick

[NattyBoh74]

Did he/she have a pfd on?

[Mark]

The accident is still under investigation but if this photo indicates this morning's conditions, kayaking the Monocacy was not a wise decision:

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fatal...ation/22687806

Very unfortunate.

[Steve6902]

The article says that he was an experience kayak and Was wearing a PFD.

[john from md]

Fast water can pin you so that even with a PFD you will drown. Sad.

[Jmoye]

Very sad! I live of the Monocacy and Potomac, haven't had an opportunity to go out safely all summer, to risky and not enjoyable. Rather go take the 1.5 hour drive to the Bay. They stated that he may have had an underlying medical issue as well. They said they hit debris and his kayak overturned.

Jackson 2018 Kraken 15.5 Ellite

[HJS]

The kayaker lived in Thurmont not too far from where I live. Certainly sad. Flow at the Bridgeport gauge (Rt 140) that day & approximate time of his drowning showed the Monocacy was on a sharp rise and peaked at 6' early in the morning of the 9th, probably before he launched. A nice polite flow for kayaking would have been around 2' maybe 3' tops. The picture shows his, presumably, red kayak caught in a "strainer". Even at lower/safer flows strainers can still be a big issue to deal with. Still, at 6' the flow would have been cooking. He maybe didn't have enough time to scoot over to the side to properly deal with the strainer. Really sad.

[Jmoye]

The kayaker lived in Thurmont not too far from where I live. Certainly sad. Flow at the Bridgeport gauge (Rt 140) that day & approximate time of his drowning showed the Monocacy was on a sharp rise and peaked at 6' early in the morning of the 9th, probably before he launched. A nice polite flow for kayaking would have been around 2' maybe 3' tops. The picture shows his, presumably, red kayak caught in a "strainer". Even at lower/safer flows strainers can still be a big issue to deal with. Still, at 6' the flow would have been cooking. He maybe didn't have enough time to scoot over to the side to properly deal with the strainer. Really sad.

They must not have realized that the rain we got last week, is filling up the river, not good.

[smithmal]

And, in case you don't know what a strainer is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7u8XLTJQTg

(Yikes... think I'll stick with fishing on a calm lake).

[Zeke]

I live in Frederick and got a little more info. They were experienced Kayakers, all 4 of them. The water was flowing heavy and fast and got in trouble when they came across a large tree down across the river. All 4 went into the water, all 4 had on PFD's and all 4 made it to shore. The guy that died was on the shoreline talking with Fire and Rescue when he suddenly collapsed most likely from a Heart Attack and passed away. He did not drown.

However, with living in the area I often go on the Monocacy and Upper Potomac. This year with the rains, the water if very high and very fast. With so many trees down and underhidden underwater hazards I am staying away. There have been too many water rescues this year from Kayakers and Canoers overturning, losing boats and equipment. Fortunately this has been the only incident resulting in a death.

Moral of the story, if you have to think about and question should I go or not, don't!! Safety is paramount!!

[Mark]

Moral of the story, if you have to think about and question should I go or not, don't!! Safety is paramount!!

Good advice.