Boy Drown On Buffalo Sunday

[Phil Lilley]

My sister, who lives in Harrison, said a friend of hers called just now and told her a 5 year old boy drown on the Buffalo yesterday- she thinks below Pruitt. I guess there's a underwater log that the livery people have tried to get the feds to move because it's very dangerous. It was lodged underwater is a fast spot during the past month's rains and high water. There have been quite a few incidents and injuries the past couple of weeks and now a death. The boy was trapped with the canoe for an hour while his family members and others tried to free him.

I'm sure it'll be in the news shortly.

[zsmith62]

What a shame... just comes to show that you can never be to careful out on the water, especially in the last couple of weeks, with water being as fast as it has been.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I guess there's a underwater log that the livery people have tried to get the feds to move because it's very dangerous

Very sad. I do wish the livery people would refuse rental when there's a known danger, but parents are the no# 1 cause in my experience. We lived in the Niangua area for some years and every year or so a youngster was lost, under the care of their parents.

[Phil Lilley]

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/site/new...16928&rfi=6

[techo]

My family and a few of our friends were down there this weekend. Last year we were unable to float the upper river because it was too dry. This year we went earlier because we wanted to float the upper, but it was too high. Bobber in the Buffalo River forum was very helpful. We decided to float the middle river because of the young age of some of the kids we took. None of us flipped or even got wet, but there were quite a few unintentional swimmers thoughout the day. One canoe was flooded, caught under water on a tree and bent in half.

I have to thank Bobber and the people he recommended. They talked me out of the upper river float with the small kids. I am responsible for me, my friends and their little booger eaters. I did the research because of it. The people who rent out the canoes don't know my experience level. I am a novice, but the one feller grew up in New Guinea. He used a flat boat to go to school where he ran track barefoot. Jungle boy can go up or down river any way he wants. I am happy to stay in the canoe, looking forward and keep the wife dry. You are responsible for you and your chitlins, not the vendors.

It is a sad day when a little one is lost. We will say a prayer for him and his family at our house.

[Al Agnew]

Kinda hard to know exactly who to assign blame to...

A lot of people think nature is a version of Disneyland and nothing bad can happen to them (or their kids). A lot of liveries and businesses don't stress nearly enough how dangerous even a moderately high river can be. I don't know exactly what I think about removing obstacles, though on the rivers with lots of canoe rentals that aren't run by the government, removing canoe hazards is standard practice.

Nature just doesn't care. So if you're responsible for others, YOU have to care a LOT.

[Forsythian]

A lot of people think nature is a version of Disneyland and nothing bad can happen to them (or their kids).

I certainly don't want to speculate about this incident in particular, but I couldn't agree more with Al. I have been struck on more than a few occasions by folks who approach a float trip like they are getting on an amusement park ride.

That said, this is a horribly sad story... thoughts and prayers on the way

[Danoinark]

Its very sad. I know the family. The boys grandfather was a retired Agri instructor from Harrison High. My middle daughter graduated with the boys mother. Prayers go out to this family.

Dano

[bclift65706]

I cannot even begin to think what it would be like to lose a child. I olny take my children where I know the river and never take them after the water has been high. I do alot of floating have my owne boat and go on a pre float make sure the river is safe. It gives me time to fish because when the kids are with me I spend alot of time tying on hooks and not wondering what is around the next bend.Some people dont have that option and if people were getting hurt there already somethig should have been done to try to prevent a tragity like that.

[bobber]

how long can you hold air under water?......... thats how long of a time span you have to save someone?