Harrisn Daily Times Reports.

[taxidermist]

Seven year old Zed (will) Davenport, son of Jason and Lori Davenport. child wearing life jacket drwoned over the weekend when the canoe he was riding turned over, pinning him underneath.

Kepp them in your thoughts.

John

[ColdWaterFshr]

What a horrible, horrible tragedy.

Its VERY spooky for me because I was just down there this past weekend and floated from Steel Creek to Kyles with my 7 yr old son. My wife and 2 daughters (ages 4 and 6) were going to join us, but stayed at camp after a couple of the outfitters came and talked to them (more like, scared the crap out of them) while we were shuttling cars down to Kyles. There were several families in our party, and most of us opted to keep the smaller kids at camp.

Here's my take on it, because myself and especially another dad were a little upset that the outfitters went and talked to our wives and not to us. I won't second guess our decision to keep the smaller kids at camp, but I do feel like they missed out on the fun we had that day, including the hike up to Hemmed in Hollow and also watching my son reel in fish after fish.

Rivers don't kill people. Lack of common sense does. Most of the Buffalo is class I-II, except for the upper section above Ponca. The Dads in our group are all experienced canoers and whitewater runners. I have floated the section of river twice before and knew what to expect. We wouldn't subject our families to any unnecessary risks. We were not drinking, we had drybags packed with dry clothing and blankets, and of course we were all wearing life jackets. Any hazards we encountered, we were fully prepared to take the safe approach or portage around. I long ago checked my macho-ego at the door, especially when it comes to the safety of my family.

If it sounds like I'm trying to rationalize the guilt I am feeling in light of the tragic drowning that took place the very next day, just 6 miles downstream, than so be it. We saw the air-evac copter lift off on our way out of Harrison on Sunday, and I remember wondering if it was headed to the river. My thoughts and prayers are with that family.

[bobber]

up date..>> warning... that same low hanging tree is still there! and two others are down across most of the river above ozark as of last weekend . they are a real hazard at low water because you are pulled in to them , with know way to avoid them, and know way of seeing whats going to happen to you if you drift a little too close.. the rangers have cut some small branches off, but the main trunk and forked limbs of this strainer still remain. the other two still have green leaves on them and are some what camouflaged into the riverbank and you don't see the water rushing under the trunk of the tree until you get right on top of it..

[Dumb to fishing]

Does anyone know where they were from. I went to school with a Jason Davenport from Yellville and can't find out if it was him.

[Guest kevinkirk]

Accidents happen and with so many ppl out on the rivers, its a numbers game til someone drowns. How horrible for the family. My prayers are with them. It will affect the rest oftheir lives. I am so sorry. Be careful out there ppl. Just because you CAN float a stream doesnt mean you should. Kids are so vulnerable. We see ppl drown all the time out here in the high winds etc. Just dont go if its dangerous, PLEASE> It still can happen in an instant, I know. Was my biggest fear as a father.

[Danoinark]

Does anyone know where they were from. I went to school with a Jason Davenport from Yellville and can't find out if it was him.

Harrison. His granddad Zed is retired from the Harrison Schools. He was the Industrial Arts teacher. Great folks.

Dano

[Dumb to fishing]

Such a very sad thing! One of our employees drowned last week in crooked creek, it can happen so quick.

[bobber]

i still feel sick paddling by that tree,.... i paddled that same day, and section. but 4 hours earlier. i was looking for a lost dog that swam away in an other canoe roll-over the day before. ..> but it's in a spot in the river that makes a hard bend to the left and the current makes a big whirl-around eddy, and the tree hangs with it's roots on the right river bank and it makes a triangle out of this bend .at higher water levels you can swing way inside of the bend. but when it's just right at a lower level ,that is not an option. you have to spin 360* in the eddy and then paddle out ,down the river . most people do it and don't even think about it, or know what happened to them because the WATER MAKES YOU. and just being a little right, off the eddy, and BANG! you hit the tree. with all the force of the buffalo river pushing . ok>> SAFETY TIP>> IF YOU FIND YOUR CANOE IS GOING TO HIT A BIG TREE WITH ALL KINDS OF LIMBS THAT ARE IN THE WATER. YOU HAVE A SPLIT SECOND TO MAKE THE COMMAND CALL #1. LEAN INTO THE TREE. hug-it (YOU HAVE A CHANCE! THAT YOU WON'T FLIP)#2. CLIMB INTO THAT TREE... I MEAN JUMP-UP OUT OF THE CANOE AND GRAB GRAB GRAB GRAB DON'T STOP UNTIL YOUR HIGH AND DRY. worry about the canoe, and gear later. .... trust me, you can't stand up in moving water and your not going to stop the river!! .....it's not a carnival ride! you can't just wave your hand and make it stop. i don't want to just sound -off . but it saddens me to think that a life was lost . a little boy waring a life jacket was pinned to the bottom of an overturned canoe! and with a small amount of simple basic river safety , it would have been a better day. I DON'T WANT TO EVER READ ABOUT ANYONE OF YOU GUYS OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS GETTING HURT . SO BE SAFE ,THINK ABOUT WHAT GOING ON.

[Danoinark]

Great advice Bobber, thanks for posting it.

Dano