Only three weeks of the Gauley River whitewater season and there have been three tragic deaths.

This past weekend a Meadville, Pennsylvania man perished after his boat was pinned under a rock near Pillow Rock rapid on the Upper Gauley near Summersville, West Virginia. The man, in his 50’s, according to sources was an experienced paddler, familiar with the river and has been paddling it for ten years.

After his boat became trapped he was able to free himself from it but unfortunately became trapped under another rock. Several boaters on the scene were able to free him. But it too late and he was unresponsive to CPR.

This was the third incident on the river this year following the drowning of two rafters from separate accidents earlier in September.

News courtesy of the West Virginia Gazette and West Virginia Metro News.