As some of you know, 3 years ago my husband and I were involved in rafting accident. My husband and another man were ejected from the raft. Sadly the other man didn't survive.
2 years ago the family of the deceased man sued the rafting company. This past week a new article about the lawsuit. Some of the allegations just make me so mad. I get they are upset their loved one dies, but I was there. It was an accident. The deceased man panicked. When you panic on a raging river things can go wrong. The company did everything they could have done.
I say this because even though my own husband was also ejected, I saw he was okay and ALL my, along with everyone else's, attention when to saving this man's life (while making sure the rest of us were safe and not ejected ourselves). Seriously, we (both rafts and the rescue kayaker) left my husband on a rock while we raced to get to the other man. He was retrieved by another rafting company. We even lost sight of my husband as we flowed down the river.
I also say this as a former USCG licensed captain. While I didn't have a river license, a lot of the same principles apply. I've experienced water rescues before. These guys were professional and did all they could.
Some of the allegations include no life jackets. Umm, I (with 2 others) physically pulled him out of the water using his jacket. Not proper instructions. One thing that stood out to me in the pre-rafting orientation was they said if 2 people are in the water at the same time, they go after the one in the most need. They 100% did that as I pointed out above. We had a break right before the accident and they again went over what would happen if you fall in the river. Including getting to the side or the raft ASAP. Which my husband did.
She also is quoted saying her husband was the most fit man. Which she wasn't wrong regards to the raft trip. My husband was the most unfit on the boat. But that doesn't matter. Fit people can panic. Unfit people can remain more calm and save themselves.
Right now there are motions in regards to the waiver. Colorado has traditionally been pro-wavier enforcers. They believe there is an inherent risk to outdoor activities. Unless there was some sort of major negligence they fall on the side of the company. The deceased man and his wife (also on the raft) were/are licensed attorneys in CA. Specializing in wrongful death. It would be interesting how this plays out.
It's been 3 years. I think about it everyday I see rafters (which is often since the river runs through work). While I'm not involved in the lawsuit directly, I just feel like until it's resolved I can't move on. Especially when every summer it's brought up in the newspapers.
One of my issues with myself is I feel like I should be more sympathetic towards the widow. Am I bitch for pointing out (not to her, just in my head) that my husband survived because he paid attention and didn't panic?? Am I just a cold-hearted person?
Their lawyers have never contacted us. I'm guessing because in the investigation it was quite clear I was on the side of the guides. I feel bad her husband died, but I just don't know what more the company/myself could have done. We extended out an oar, we threw him a rope bag, which hit him in the face, but he didn't grab. We preformed CPR for a long time because it was so remote that cells phones didn't work. Plus it was more than a mile to the nearest road, so it took a while for rescue could get to us once finally contacted. We were really trying to help. I did more for him than my own husband.
Anyway, thanks for reading this. Sometimes you just need to get things off your chest.
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