kayaker dies of head injury

[suckhole]

Some of you know I have had two head injuries in my short paddling carrier. The last was worse than I wanted to admit. It's raining here in KY and I know it hit ya'll first. Wish I was with you,but have vowed to myself not to paddle anything until I invest in better headgear. Now I have better reason than ever. That coulda been me on the Tot and Bob Brewer havin to deal with it all. BTW thanks for your help that day EVERYONE!!
This kid had it going his way. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.



Claire Trageser
The Denver Post
POSTED: 07/19/2009 02:46:00 PM MDT
UPDATED: 07/19/2009 03:07:12 PM MDT


A 21-year-old Colorado School of Mines student died after a kayaking accident on the Big South Fork of the Cache La Poudre River near Fort Collins, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

Derk Slottow drowned, said Diane Fairman, the chief deputy coroner for Larimer County.

On Saturday morning Slottow, who was the President of the CSM Kayaking Club, went underwater and hit his head, the Sheriff's Office said.

A friend, who was traveling in a boat behind him, pulled him from the water and started CPR.

The friend then left to get help, hiking almost 2 miles to the Corral Creek Trailhead where he found a Rocky Mountain National Park Ranger.

At around noon, that ranger called the Larimer County Sheriff's Office dispatch for help.

Larimer County Search and Rescue, Colorado State Park Rangers and the North Park Volunteer Fire Department helped to recover Slottow's body.

Slottow was a passionate kayaker and a dedicated civil engineering student, said Dave Brokering, Slottow's friend and Vice President of the CSM Kayaking Club .

"He was one of those people where if you were fortunate enough to become friends with him, he'd always be there for you," Brokering said.

Slottow was interning for the McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group, which designs whitewater courses and parks.

Slottow hoped to continue this work after graduating, Brokering said. In the fall he would have started his fifth year at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

[rickyrod]

Sad to hear, but a good reminder that noone is ammuned to drowning . 17% of drowning deaths are related to boating and only 10% are scubadiving related . the highest ofcourse is swimming. so be safe and don't be the one we all read about. Dennis do you have a backdeck roll? thats the only roll I use but I'm playboater only, but it gets me up super quik.just FYI. take care dude.

[rickyrod]

suckhole , I wasn't just talkn to you about be carefull . although I still show the pic. of the cut above your eye to those youngens who think there bulletproof. hope it left a cool scar.

[RandyJ]

For whatever it's worth, I've been following this account pretty closely and haven't heard any corroboration that he hit his head. Info is pretty sketchy thus far, but best info I've been able to get is that he had a semi-vertical heads-down pin. Boating partner estimated it took him three minutes or more to free the boat and get the victim out of the boat and on shore. CPR was attempted for about 30 minutes, then partner went for help.

Hopefully a more detailed account will surface from the partner and boating party/ies that came upon the scene and assisted.

Any death is sad, but this one seems extra tough. Never met the guy, but knew him from his posts on the 'Buzz and traded a few PMs with him. Seemed like an all-around great guy, living life to the fullest, contagious enthusiasm, helpful, and totally gung ho about kayaking. Last time I looked, the thread on Mountainbuzz had topped 30,000 views - that's a pretty strong tribute in and of itself.

[suckhole]

Yeah Ricky, I got a heckofa scar. Actually two good ones one on top of the other. Gettin mom's stuff took care of, then purchasing the old foolface. I am still planning to yell at you about the ocoee soon. You saw it man. I coulda been that guy. Feel very fortunate to be able to carry my own boat out instead of somebody carrying me.

[L.A.paddler]

This is a very sad story, that hits very close to home for me. I truly feel for the friend that was with Derk when the accident happened. I too lost a close friend on a Colorado river six years ago and I am still very haunted by it.
I didn't know Derk, I have not kept up with MountainBuzz in a while. But it sounds to me that the paddling community has lost a great ally. As we did when we lost Dave Borrell. I can happen and does! That is why I push SWR to every student that I work with. I'm not saying that this can't happen if you have had SWR but all it can do is help.
My condolences to his family.

TD

[suckhole]

Yesser!! My next purchase after the helmet is a ticket to the Willy Bayzer SWR tour. :)

[paddlinggoddess]

Very sad news for our boating community. My thoughts are with him and his family. This is just another example of when it time, its time. He will be missed.
Sabrina