KAYAKER SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURY IN SELWAY RIVER A New Zealand kayaker spent three days in St. Patrick Hospital [Missoula] with serious injuries suffered during a weekend river accident that sent him pounding down 1.5 miles of the Selway River's most treacherous rapids without his kayak.
A bruised Neal Larsen was released from the hospital Tuesday and flew to his parents' home in Oakland, Calif., where he is expected to recuperate before returning to New Zealand, said Terry Tracey, in a telephone interview from his Napa, Calif., home Tuesday night.
Tracey was one of 13 rafters and kayakers in the self-guided group that set out into the wilderness area last week. They launched at Paradise, near Moose Creek. At Ladle Rapid, Larsen became caught in a hole. He made numerous attempts to roll, but he was unsuccessful.
Finally, he exited the kayak and began a difficult swim down Little Niagara, Second Helping, and Puzzle Creek rapids. Two other kayakers finally reached him above No Slouch rapids, said Tracey.
``He was extremely exhausted -- weak -- but still trying to swim,'' Tracey said.
Given the lateness of the afternoon and Larsen's weakened state, the group decided to camp overnight at Cedar Flats and monitor Larsen's condition. Larsen threw up that and evening and the next morning and he was suffering from a headache. But he didn't feel he was injured seriously enough to warrant leaving the wilderness area immediately.
An outfitter and group with Northwest River Company, based in Stanley, Idaho, passed the self-guided group early Saturday and waved as they passed by.
``The mistake we made was the guys at camp did not flag the Northwest group over when they passed,'' said Tracey.
But fortunately part of Tracey's group hiked over to the Northwest group when it stopped for lunch downstream near Meeker Creek. Concerned members of the self-guided group talked to the guide and a doctor who happened to be vacationing with the Northwest group.
Doug Tims, of Northwest River Company, said his senior guide, Corey Chase, who is an emergency first responder, and a Dr. William Bourland, of Boise, Idaho, hiked back with the group to check on Larsen. After a preliminary exam, Bourland voiced concern Larsen might have a concussion. He also thought Larsen's muscle damage incurred during the swim may be creating toxins in his blood that his kidneys could not remove becaue he was dehydrated.
Bourland worried kidney failure might result, said Tims, who runs river trips out of Missoula during June and July. The group decided to take a raft and float Larsen down to the Northwest camp. The crew with Northwest then called for Life Flight and rendezvous [sic] with the helicopter downstream at Pinchot camp about an hour later, said Tims.
``The level of myoglobin in Larsen's blood should normally be about 50. When he got to the hospital it was about 600. Now it is half that and improving,'' said Tims.
``Were just glad we were able to help. Our guides' training and our investment in a satellite phone are substantial, but the high water this year and now this rescue made us feel it was worth every penny spent,'' said Tims.