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It is with great sadness that I have to report that Gail Sparwasser passed away on Saturday, June 5th, at approximately 11:00 am.
Gail was rafting on the Selway River in Idaho and drowned after flipping in Ladle Rapid. Gail's husband, Ron, was rowing their 14-foot self-bailing raft and Gail was riding in front. Both Ron and Gail endured long swims in heavy downstream rapids. Ron was able to make it to the left bank. Other members of the group tried in vain to find Gail, rowing down river as fast as possible. Gail's body apparently remained in the main current and was found by another rafting party further down river. The other rafting party attempted resuscitation but too much time had passed by then. She was wearing a full drysuit, lifejacket, and helmet.
I know all this because I (Steve Herring) was the trip leader.
Some quick facts:
- we were a party of 16 people (2 from Seattle area, 3 from Walla Walla, and the rest from the Portland area)
- we had 13 boats, 6 rafts and 7 cats
- launch date: Wed June 2
- the gauge at the Paradise put-in was 3.8 ft
I know many of you are curious to know more details and I'm sure you have many questions. If you send me a private email with "selway question" in the subject line, I will try to answer it in the coming days. In the meantime, please say a prayer for Ron and his family.
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Selway drowning, reposted from Idaho whitewater yahoo group New 
BoaterTalk 
