Wyoming Man Dies in Rafting Accident
A Wyoming man who was working as a raft operator died Tuesday after falling into the Snake River.
The 44-year-old victim, a Moran resident, has not been publicly identified pending notification of family. Three other people who were involved in the accident were not injured, according to a statement from Grand Teton National Park officials.
All four of them were employed by Grand Teton Lodge Company at the time of the incident.
During a training trip, their scenic float raft hit a log snag and became tangled near the historic Bar BC Dude Ranch. Some of the passengers fell into the cold, swift water.
As the raft operator tried to dislodge the raft, he also fell into the water. The passengers were able to climb to safety on the log snag itself and eventually made it back into the raft, but the operator was nowhere to be found.
The passengers called for help at roughly 3:30 p.m. and park rangers immediately responded to the scene as well as other areas along the river with multiple rescue boats. Rescue and medical personnel also responded while Teton County Search and Rescue members searched from a helicopter.
The boat operator's body was found and recovered at roughly 5:15 p.m. near the log snag. The Teton County coroner declared the man dead.
An investigation by the National Park Service is ongoing. Further details were not released.