Sad News On The Meramec

[Gavin]

http://www.kplr11.com/news/sns-ap-mo--mera...0,1555962.story

5 kids and one adult in a canoe, what were they thinking?

[smallmouthjoe]

What where they thinking bring such a young child on a float trip? I get nervous paddling around with inexperienced adults in moving water. Its a terrible thing.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Is that part of the river too close to the city or suburbs where there's not any outfitters? Surely an outfitter wouldn't have let them float like that. I doubt that's the case I hope. Terrible tragedy...

[ness]

There's a general perception out there that anybody can drive a canoe and a life jacket will protect you. Of course, both are wrong. Unfortunately this mistake cost them dearly, and somebody's going to have to live with that decision the rest of their life. Sad, sad, sad.

[ozark trout fisher]

http://www.kplr11.com/news/sns-ap-mo--mera...0,1555962.story

5 kids and one adult in a canoe, what were they thinking?

What a terrible tragedy!

I can't believe things like this happen, its just not right.

I don't really mean the way the parent was a bit misguided taking five kids on a canoe, I believe in God in and everything, but how can he let things like this happen. It just kills me to think of it.

We really need to keep our thoughts and prayers with that family.

Stories like this make me want to cry, they really do.

[Randall]

Its a shame, but things like that happen. Sometimes I wonder if its not mostly due to a lack of respect for the responsibility that comes with certain activities- driving, boating, guns, the list goes on... it'll tear you up when its a kid that gets the worst of it too.

[hank franklin]

This one tears at me too. The little one had a lifejacket on so it's hard to come down too hard on the parent. I've had a bunch of kids in my canoe before too. It's likely the operator wasn't that experienced but sometimes things just get away from you. The Meramec has an ugly way about it. The current can be fierce, the water big, and it's easy to get separated from your party, and then hard to re-unite. I've seen this recently in the run just below the Huzzah confluence. Was helping a couple and their kid fish things out of the river after a spill and the man with no lifejacket got swept into some trees and into a tight spot. He kept himself afloat but basically had to climb himself over the tree to free himself. I was looking for a way to give him a hand but it would have been tough. Had he gone under the trees I really don't know what anyone could have done for him.

I am very familiar with the stretch below Campbell bridge and fear I know the exact spot this may have happened. It's similar to what I described above in that it has brush and trees at the downstream end of a deep and swift current. I was fishing it one day and my $5 lure got hung in the trees. I waded out a bit to get to it when the water dropped off and pretty soon I was up to my chest and drifting into the trees. I got myself out of there quick but that too could have went bad. It happens.

Beware the downed brush in the deep flowing holes! Don't mess with them! I hope I've learned my lesson. My heart goes out to the family of the little one.

[Gavin]

Campbell Bridge to Blue Spring Creek is one of the most scenic on the Meramac..Its about an hour from St. Louis and well served by outfitters. Its a flat water float but there is a lot of deep water and the current is strong and its a bit murky. Kinda like the Eleven Point...easy to float, but it can be high consequence water if something goes wrong. Not the place I'd want to take my 2 year old out for a float. I'm surprised that someone let them put on with that many kids in canoe. Tragedys like this make me very sad and a bit angry.

[405z06]

Wow, that's sad. I am not one to look for someone to blame for this type of thing. Sometimes these things happen and there is nothing you can do. It's part of the risk when dealing with Mother Nature. Terribly sad, though.

[BredMan]

What a terrible tragedy!

My wife and I were very sadden to hear this on the news as well. Our immediate thoughts were "why - why - why"?

We both thought of our 2 year old grand daughter and cannot understand how anyone would possibly think this was a safe adventure. This was beyond plain and simple common sense. What a horrible thing to live with the rest of your life.