Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking

The Potomac River has some of the most extreme rapids that only the most skilled kayakers can navigate. CBS News correspondent David Martin recently followed young kayaker Shannon Christy for "60 Minutes Sports," as she prepared for a race down the river. Two days before the competition, Christy was killed in a practice run.

[@coreyjoemusic]

Shannon and I were from the same small town in appalachia, population around 2000, where not many escape the clutches of addiction. She was a light to our community, a local legend. Call it arrogance or what have you but Shannon was good and is a prime example of how ferociously we should pursue our goals and dreams. I miss this girl dearly.

[@lillaurap]

Thank you for sharing that. May she rest in peace.

[@kenkrausse3624]

Yes,she is missed

[@coreyjoemusic]

Oh look at you Joshua Anderson! Takes some real intelligence to point out the obvious, rather than understand nuance. "Shee wint awone tehehe"

[@coreyjoemusic]

Yes Josh I said that everyone should go kayak alone. Go collect your KZbin Comment gold medal.

[@chrisbauman2562]

Hahahahaha sorry to laugh but she was inexperienced af. She lost her life because she made a very very poor decision

[@draleigh8881]

Man, respect to the guys who got her out. how horrible of an accident. r.i.p. Shannon

[@ivhu5357]

rest in peaces

[@AmericanThunder]

​@@ivhu5357In peaces?

[@Robcalitrek1]

Inexperience and over confidence are a deadly combination.

[@markuse3472]

She had the experience, and all of them need to have confidence. When one doubts, that is more dangerous.

[@markuse3472]

@Dan Trebune Yeah, and the rest of the many years experience "extreme" "sports" deaths were also not long enough experienced. Five years, two years, ten years, it's all very good experience if they haven't died in that period. Many die from these "sports," some who have done them for more years than this woman. But then again, since this is woman, for you she appears less experienced. She was very experienced.

[@mr.mcmagpie6606]

@@markuse3472 you should always have a buddy system when kayaking. That was her first mistake of inexperience

[@NavidIsANoob]

@@mr.mcmagpie6606 She had a buddy. She was kayaking with a buddy. Thanks anyway, armchair expert.

[@mr.mcmagpie6606]

@@NavidIsANoob wrong, if she had a buddy they would have know exactly what rapid she went down and could have located and saved her. And before you say no way, there are plenty of vids on KZbin of people saving their friend from this exact issue. My buddy will always know where I'm at, at all times when we are on the Rapids. Unfortunately this is what happens when you don't...

[@irmaadams7780]

"Don't worry. I'm going to take you home." Bone chilling. Great men who helped make that happen.

[@angelapulzone8462]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@zyrrhos]

Well in reality, they took her discarded garment home. Shannon was gone.

[@LeoneBeats]

@Winston McGee dead p? You must be out of your mind or just very very stupid, either way get it checked...

[@midgetman4206]

@Winston McGee or, you know, not wanting someone to die a rather horrible death

[@lakshmandasa4184]

She already left her body

[@kennywong5640]

if no one saw it happen, she was running class V river alone...paid dearly for ignoring the first rule of kayaking...even the best needed help at times...you always go with one or two others for safety reason

[@Romany1111]

+kenny wong Yeah, Kenny. Tons of mates there to extricate the body, but no one saw her do the run?!

[@JurijFedorov]

Not that it would have mattered one single bit. There is no way to save her from there anyway.

[@sormu16]

Makes sense, but in this case she got out of the kayak, and got stuck against a cliff, with a large team of people needed to pull her free. Going with somebody would have made no difference.

[@bandofbros8112]

If you had people on the cliffs especially near subway then they might've been able to pull her away before she got in there or diverted her to a safer area. Paddling alone is just a huge risk.

[@ccarr1142]

True, but you have to remember she was a woman in a sport with mostly men and apparently had something to prove. That's why she ignored the advice of the professional, because he is a man and no man is going to tell here what to do.

[@jameshood1928]

In my 70's now. 35 years running rapids. Friends have drowned. Though young, Shannon had run some big water and done well by all accounts. I have always considered the first two times down a run to be when you are most vulnerable, especially in the event of a mishap. Something went wrong on her second run, she made a decision and was unlucky. That's risk sports. Great job by those guys recovering her body. Very sad day.

[@timeflies313]

I’m not trynna come up with bullsh1t here or what not, but do you think maybe some foul play might have happened? I don’t know much about extreme water sports like this one but to think she was a rising star and a woman at that, that must have been enough motive if foul play was indeed in the mix. I don’t know, I just have a feeling and I don’t want to treat the case closed until all factors have been cleared.

[@randyscott9720]

Im 72 , gave up whitewater 12 yrs ago. It ruined my life due to Tramatic head head and present day CTE damage. Good memories though

[@johnhydrick7800]

I would say there’s almost zero chance of foul play being involved. Great falls is a very dangerous set of rapids and this kind of thing unfortunately happens from time to time in the whitewater kayaking world. Part of the nature of the sport

[@Rebel-yell1860]

I sustained a severe Cranial Subdural Hematoma Sir (I love big wave riding & Skydiving). Anyhow, I deal with severe headaches and former migraines. I’m 45 years young 😅😬😅Sir. I wouldn’t take the memories back from anything, even it had cost me my life. Thank you Sir! You’re a lifelong member of a dying American breed. YOU NOT ONLY LIVED; YOU LIVED OUT YOUR DREAMS! In the words of one finest men (family man), & legend amongst the big wave riding community. This quote comes from his last on camera interview: “If you want the ultimate, you must be willing to pay the ultimate.” Less than a week later riding Mavericks (Half moon bay), his leash hung up on the reef thereby killing him. He died doing what he loved, & so did Shannon Christie. She’s officially on my hero list; & her families on my daily prayer list. Forever & ever, Amein. Deepest respect, John T.

[@jameshood1928]

Thanks!

[@nobodynobody783]

"Don't worry. I'm going to take you home." That was beautiful...and home she went...I almost cried.

[@atrocious_pr0xy]

This is heartbreaking. That woman was brave to face the challenge and those men were brave to risk themselves in finding her. It's been 7 years, but I hope her family has found peace.

[@thedude4594]

Unbelievable this happened during the filming and even more unbelievable she was warned multiple times even by the host who has probably never kayaked.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

Not to mention, she took up the sport at age 21 and only had three-years' experience. My grandmother would call it *hubris.*

[@bippy201]

@David Davesby The host said it was overreaching to her.

[@PseudoAccurate]

The host... who knows nothing about anything warned her. And the expert kayaker took her down no problem and apparently she did fine. I don't think it's obvious it was a lack of experience that killed her, it's just an easy conclusion to make.

[@wolfman231]

@@PseudoAccurate the expert also warned her to stay away from Subway (the chute where she died.)

[@huzcer]

@@musicaltheatergeek79 she was 23 when she died (says she was 23 at the start of the piece) and only took it up when 21 as it also says then she in fact had less than 3 years experience. They were rounding up

[@jasonji3263]

Man really sad, such a close interview, and next moment she's dead.

[@kayakcraig]

Thank you Steve Fisher and crew for your recovery. With respect to Shannon and her family, our kind regards. We salute Shannon.

[@dudearon8130]

That sucks. Poor girl. My heart goes out for her. I've been stuck under a waterfall for what felt like an eternity and really thought I was going to die until I just floated up by chance. Another 10 or 15 seconds, I would have blacked out and probably drowned. The only other time I thought I was going to die was when I had a car on top of me after a motorcycle wreck and I couldn't breathe. There's no feeling as helpless as needing to take a breath and not being able to, and I've lived through it twice. May she rest in peace.

[@lockethomas7165]

Why would you write all this garbage here is besides me.

[@mareezy]

This is why I don't kayak risky rivers

[@justinsmith6379]

@Roger Komula could be. It could also be him relating to her.

[@broadcasttttable]

I'm 72 now, and looking back I always had a love/not-quite-hate,more-like-mild-dread relationship with the sport. Never could master the off-side roll, so that would limit my risk taking. Still, due to life/work circumstances, I violated the cardinal rule and did boat alone quite often, but only lost a paddle or two in the process. Only injured once, having bruised my back going over a ledge upside down on the South Fork of the Payette in Idaho. Overestimated my abilities and signed up for the two-week Grand Canyon trip. First day in, learned my roll wasn't bombproof, and that fear stayed with me the entire trip, although seven days in I made some mental and physical adjustments that made the rest of the journey a lot more "somewhat" relaxed. The three biggest rapids: Hance, I swam. Crystal, I portaged. Lava Falls, I paddled. After the trip, put my kayak up for sale at a yard sale, telling myself, if I sold it, I was done kayaking. If not, I might do it again. First thing I sold. Great time in my life, learned a lot about myself and fear.

[@laueryncesolorio1765]

How you typing so good at this age lol

[@Bb-ir4ko]

Respect to you, glad you lived your peaceful life. We humans sometimes aren’t meant to do these things. Experience makes us wise. How cool. I almost died down the south fork payette last weekend on my birthday. Those are beautiful waters here in my home.

[@broadcasttttable]

@@Bb-ir4ko Wise...or dead. (lol) Mind if I ask you what section of the south fork you had problems on? I never did Staircase, and still think occasionally it'd be fun to put in just above and take out just below, a kind of bucket-list thing. Then I come to my senses, lol (but never say never). I live in Sun Valley. You?

[@dwpinspectot]

I learned something a long time ago and it applies to soo many adventures. "There are Old pilots and Bold plots but there are NO OLD BOLD PILOTS!" RIP Shannon!

[@funkyflights]

That's really sad, RIP to her.... It's really cool that you guy's recovered her body so she could go home... Props to Steve Fisher and everyone involved in getting her out...

[@JamesNunya-vj7wm]

They didn't recover nobody they put the body there she was murdered there's too many holes in the story in these guys look way too fishy when they talk about and pull her body out. Why are you buying this b*****. If you were doing something that dangerous would you go out there by yourself. Did you see the innocence in her come on think about it

[@commonunicorn1975]

It’s crazy to me that she died during filming for this interview, and that the interviewer kept alluding to the fact that this was dangerous and she should reconsider.

[@wesleyboyter8661]

Lost friends on the green River narrows. I absolutely love the rush this sport provides, but you NEVER paddle alone.

[@henryroop3671]

@Tony Po no the rush is fun, it isn’t deadly

[@HoyaSaxaSD]

@@henryroop3671 English?

[@randallmarsh1187]

@@HoyaSaxaSD There's actually nothing wrong with Henry Roop's English, a missed comma and you don't understand it? English?

[@oldageisdumb]

She was not alone. She was paddling with another experienced kayaker

[@DC_PRL]

it is fun and games.... until it is not. Seemed overconfident and naive. it got her killed. I quit the sport after only 3 years,, after my buddy died in class four rapids. we did all the safety right, everything went wrong. this is a very sad story.

[@helixwd739]

It is a brilliant sport but there is always a risk that you have to take. She definatly was not ready for those rapids and your friend was a tragic example of rivers mercilesness as it does not matter what grade or skill a mistake can mean death. Im sorry for your loss.

[@archiearchiball3392]

death is only the beginning

[@lukpo1997]

@@archiearchiball3392 what do you mean?

[@robbanks4356]

@@lukpo1997 he is talking about the after life and how we all have souls and how your spirit doesnt die off with our physical vessel.

[@lukpo1997]

@@robbanks4356 well, I'm not Shure if that is true so I will live like is not

[@reedybloke]

I was always taught 'Your judgement comes from experience. Your experience comes from misadventure'. You need to shit your pants enough times to know how to avoid the situations where you are going to shit your pants. Sadly I guess she did not shit her pants enough times in three years to avoid the one thing she was told not to do. Like Bringabongalong, I was also taught, 'Less than three there should never be'. Paddling alone ??!!!! Very bad judgement. Hubris is followed by nemesis. Very sad. Not for her but her friends, family and fellow paddlers.

[@StaticJolts]

Lost a friend in May 2023 on the Colorado river kayaking...the kayak, gear and backpack were found, but his body still has not been found (7 months later), and is believed to be pinned between the Byers Canyon walls and rocks under the water. This is so sad, but this video helped me understand what happened to my friend Ari :(

[@raterus]

I'm watching this after getting flipped out of my kayak in easy-peasy class-1 rapids. Beneath my knees I got torn up pretty bad from jagged rocks, but I walked away. I can't imagine what these rapids would do to the human body when you get it wrong.

[@nlhernandez39]

Not only the water but the rocks. Those would hurt lol

[@dertythegrower]

Big respect to Steve, that took some courage

[@Bambotb]

I'd never risk my life for a lifeless body

[@polloborracho9180]

@Based Department Based is Based lol

[@caletix8858]

@Based Department Are you rascist or joking

[@simonellis3340]

Very sad. I kayaked all over the world - Canada, Alps, Himalayas, Costa Rica, Norway, Scotland, Wales and USA. I visited Washington DC and went up to see Great Falls but I didn't have a kayak to run it and I am not sure I would have if I did. Confidence is probably 70% of what you need to be proficient in whitewater - 10% is your kit, 10% your skills and 10% is your buddies/team. Multiple water falls are very dangerous. Screw up the first drop or get lost or run backwards down a fall and you are in big trouble. After over 20 years of running falls you have to learn when to walk away and not be too confident. Sadly, and this is not a sexist remark, she may not have had the upper body strength to get her self out of trouble and "drive" the kayak hard if she was getting pushed down the wrong route. God bless her

[@simonellis3340]

Huge respect for the rescue team. That must have been tough

[@carsonblatner950]

Simon Ellis hi

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I hate to agree, but it's very possibly true. This culture of aggressive 'kickass' feminism that demands that women can do everything men can do, and better is somewhat delusional. Men are simply stronger in certain areas, and no amount of 'attitude' can compensate.

[@RichRich1955]

Confidence is key but skills is the overriding factor. I kayaked a number of years and found a number of kayakers who didn't have much experience running extreme rapids. There needs to be time spent on easier rapids before progressing. Also, even the best might have a bad day and pay the price.

[@brendandohaney3359]

It had NOTHING to do with her being a woman, or not being able to have the upper body strength. NO ONE has the upper body strength to get themselves out of that sieve. It took 6 people and a well-designed Z-drag system in order to extricate her from it. She made the mistake of running class V without support on hand, and took the one line that you absolutely do NOT take on the falls.

[@biggienorm420]

im from VA and grew up kayaking with my dad. i have more good memories kayaking than anything. she was definitely doing what she loved. i'm sorry ti hear about this, hope she gets to explore the stars.

[@jogowi3297]

First a hero and then the tears. I have known the scene for 30 years and the unconscious pressure to go to the limits and beyond. Christy's facial expression in the video says it all. Nobody expected it before, life changed afterwards. It took a dead woman for that. R.I.P

[@Iheartdgd]

Very sad, I’ve known a few people in my life who have died in kayaking accidents, as fun as it looks and as much I have wanted to try, I don’t think I’ll be participating in this sport.

[@Iheartdgd]

@Candy R of course, I have a kayak and I’ve brought it out to many local lakes for a long time, I’m more so talking about the rapids and those hardcore creeks you see people in (basically the sport of ‘extreme kayaking) but I still love boating/kayaking otherwise.

[@carolecarr5210]

A real tear jerker. The gentleman who retrieved her body is quite the soul.

[@vinceavery7216]

That is heartbreaking .... Bless You Shannon and your family .

[@poopenvarten]

If I ever die doing something like this I do NOT want others risking their lives to find me

[@24sumo]

We won’t

[@thewinterwoods]

100%. A dead body is just decaying meat... might sound insensitive to say but that is what it is, no dead body is worth any amount of mortal risk.

[@FirstLast-nz9vo]

@@24sumo lol

[@MischeviousGP]

If you want to be left to rot, go to everest. You might even become a way point...

[@poopenvarten]

@@24sumo thank god

[@hellespont5072]

All the comments here saying "she died doing what she loved" "she lived life to the fullest", I am sorry but I have to disagree. Put yourself in her shoes and contemplate her last terrifying moments alive struggling for breath, we can pretty much guarantee she was regretting her decision at that point... The partner she will never meet, the children she will never have, the joy in the hours spent teaching them how to kayak etc... It's sad and unfortunate that she lost her life, but we shouldn't try to put a positive spin on a death that was avoidable. If she had survived the ordeal, do you really believe she would be advising people to go and risk it all and die doing what they loved?! I don't think so. I love riding horses and I'm well aware of the dangers, but I really don't want anybody glorifying my death if I went out riding alone and broke my neck.

[@YaGottaBeKidding]

Chances are that's not the way it happened. For both myself and all who I've talked to (more than a few) who have come so close to drowning that, well, we should have, you work and do your best to extricate yourself and aren't thinking "I'm dying, oh no!" In my case, I was under for well over three minutes, working and struggling all the time. I finally did realize I wasn't going to make it and, believe it or not, it was actually very peaceful, with literally no regrets. But I couldn't quit and gave it what I knew would be a final effort, and I popped out. Almost all others with whom I've spoken who'd been in those situations never thought they'd die in that moment. In fact, a number of them lost consciousness while under water, having the same luck as I'd had in that they somehow just popped out later and were either pulled out by friends or washed up on a rock in a manner in which they could breath. Not a one of them had realized they were losing consciousness; all were surprised that they had, and that they had come so close to drowning. Maybe it's the nature of those who chose and enjoy whitewater so deeply, but all of us were fighting until the end, but there was never a sense of panic or dread, only the (of course false) knowledge that we'd make it out. It's not like you are just underwater and can't breathe, for you are working it, working to rescue yourself; much of whitewater paddling is like that, in that you aren't just along for the ride but are actively on the river. It isn't that "she died doing what she loved", it isn't "do you really want to die like that?" What it is: we really want to LIVE like that. Sure, we could hide from risk, but that's not how we are wired. Yes, it most certainly is sad that she'd lost her life, but Shannon (I didn't know her) would almost certainly have been in the forefront of those fighting for the ability to take these risks. We've all lost friends to the river, at least if we've been doing it long enough, but it dishonors them all to claim it was "avoidable" by just not paddling it in the first place. You are right Hellespont in that she wouldn't have advised people to go and die doing what they loved; she'd have advised them to live doing what they loved.

[@fitchery9315]

YaGottaBeKidding I thank you so much for sharing your experience. It's beautiful of you to honor those that lived doing what they loved. Thank you so much for defending people's right to a passionate life.

[@CensoredByYouTube965]

You struggle to survive, you think of nothing.

[@drmanhattan9101]

Carla. The point isnt that we know what she was thinking, the point is that she will miss out on tens of thousands of great moments because she got in over her head in a fairly reckless hobby. She was wrong for doing what she did- period. If one of these kayaker guys was her boyfriend and got her into the sport and pushed her to keep going harder, he has blood on his hands and I hope he has had many bad nights of sleep for it.

[@BigMac8008]

I don’t know if you’ve ever had a near death experience, but its not like that at all. You aren’t thinking ‘oh man, I’m about to die’. You’re thinking, ‘I’m in a bad situation, I need to get out now!’. The realization that you could have, or were about to die almost always comes after the incident. In the moment though, it’s all about saving yourself.

[@m-h1217]

She was confident in something she didn't have experience in. That was the mistake that took her life.

[@davidmontoya7632]

Hence over reaching

[@m-h1217]

@Tony Po Yes, but not everyone would get caught.

[@seafoodpizza]

How much experience do you need for something like that?

[@m-h1217]

@@seafoodpizza More than what she had.

[@lowellirish]

So sad, such a lovely young lady. RIP sweetie

[@Redmow51]

I hate hearing about these accidents. RIP, Shannon.

[@mcslimshady2848]

foredamusic it was still an accident tho

[@raywalteroutdoors]

I was just getting my gopro's and kayak ready to do this. Think I'll stick to the Class 2's I hit on the weekend and call it a day.

[@gucciraccoon1612]

Curt Walter be safe out there men

[@Dan007UT]

yep. Class 2 all day with the occasional Class 3 is the best for me!

[@h2w25]

If you’re not an inexperienced woman who’s being exploited for some misguided attempt at gender equality, you should be just fine.

[@tranquility9325]

My heart breaks for her, rest in peace Shannon and hoping for the deeply sad memories to be replaced with joy at the funny things she did and said when she was with us🌷

[@shaundejwan9035]

Well at least she died doing what she loved. RIP.

[@JonnyDIY]

Tragic story. It's a dangerous sport, & an extremely dangerous spot even for the veteran pros. RIP 💕

[@nlhernandez39]

Why would anybody in their right mind even attempt this sport? U can get slammed in the rocks and end up a quadrapelegic

[@pjotrnygard1447]

@@nlhernandez39 everything has risks, why even go outside anymore a meteorite could strike you at any time

[@trdtrek3717]

@@pjotrnygard1447 … I get you, your comparison is way off.

[@pickingwilddaisies945]

That’s absolutely heartbreaking 💔. You can’t get too confident around water.

[@AmrothPalantir]

let them be confident...

[@scottscott3154]

@@AmrothPalantir But it's true. You can^t get too confident around water

[@Lily.valkyrie]

may this be a reminder to all in extreme sports; Never. Kayak. Alone. overconfidence is your enemy, and being by yourself is even worse

[@amdz4696]

Thats what I tell those who skydiving those with much experience will survive when the parachute doesn't work!

[@jamiegoodman8172]

She wasn't kayaking alone... bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/july-august-2014/one-of-their-own/

[@jpallen719]

Never even heard of her and Iam sick to my stomach.... sorry for such a loss......

[@taggintailsoutdoors2282]

That's so sad. Her last mins on earth had to have been so scary for her. RIP

[@gxlorp]

Lol

[@nobytes2]

@@gxlorp what's funny about someone dying, keyboard warrior?

[@Moxzy8382]

@@nobytes2 I’m questioning why tf would she go on water with high pressure and no experience, kind of idiotic in the first place but rip

[@taggintailsoutdoors2282]

@@carolinaraeper easy to say.. but you can't stop someone from doing what they love.. she knew the risk. Just sad

[@harryechiverri6013]

Rest in peace Shannon.

[@BrazenBullXXX]

This was the equivalent of doing your first solo flight after doing only ground school. Way too much of a stretch and she paid dearly.

[@NavidIsANoob]

She was kayaking with a buddy. Stop lying.

[@destinomura7117]

NavidIsANoob 😂

[@thewinterwoods]

@@NavidIsANoob It says right in the video she was alone.

[@NavidIsANoob]

@@thewinterwoods All it takes is a simple google search.

[@derpderp8440]

@@NavidIsANoob Just did, no report about her being with someone. May this death remind people to always be with a buddy and never alone. And to at least gain more years in experience before doing the more dangerous areas.

[@weemissile]

For those that don't know, Steve Fisher was part of the team that did the first, and as far as I know only, descent of the Inga Falls on the Congo, which has got to be the toughest whitewater known to man.

[@madsupervilian.]

Great Falls, an Olympian died there previously before her just practicing. I live near there, it'd dangerous

[@georgeorwell480]

Yeah I’m about an hour away

[@quinnjim]

I have a hard time understanding why people risk their life like that. It just seems so pointless. The upside is you get a temporary rush. The downside is death. Just a shame. The reporter told her (pretty directly) that it was a bad idea. You can't help people who won't listen.

[@hellucination9905]

Nihilism.

[@quinnjim]

@Dan Trebune Not at all comparable. Flying is much safer and it can lead to a good job.

[@TruFrag]

Everytime this story comes up all I can think to my self is she had nothing to prove, she was told not to and yet she did it anyway. She could have become one of the best.

[@Johnnyhumbkr]

Very sad indeed. She seemed like a very likable person ,who just loved life! But kayaking is inherently risky, and this has happened to the best of the best. Including a guy running a double drop on the Poudre river, just north west of Ft. Collins, Colorado. He died the same way, behind a waterfall. RIP young lady.

[@Skank_Hunt42]

Confidence brought her to the sport, inexperience took her from the sport

[@HeroInTheSun]

Not Girls Sport

[@cadencel1582]

@Eric Rerrud11 oh do shut up. It’s ignorant to think that women haven’t been the shadow of many sports for hundreds of years. It’s not because she was a women, or because of the so called left wing narrative. The original comment was right. It’s lack of experience. It could have happened to anyone.

[@cadencel1582]

@Eric Rerrud11 as in anyone being reported on for a dangerous sport. She had pressure on her, and that could have contributed to it, but blaming on the ‘left’ is straw manning it so much

[@cadencel1582]

@Eric Rerrud11 Yet, you could say that for anything on the news. There’s a reason it’s unique. It doesn’t make it inherently bad. If a puppy has no legs, it’s unique, and the news might cover it. The first blind and deaf woman to graduate Harvard, makes the news, literally anything related to soccer, football, golf, ect. makes the news because they *did something. They are all under pressure by the media. But, that could be from any side. She didn’t die because CBS is left leaning, she died because it’s a dangerous sport. Plenty of men die every year kayaking. Just because the news station is more liberal doesn’t mean that she died as a result of the left agenda.

[@cadencel1582]

@Eric Rerrud11 but that is non-inclusive of right wing propaganda. Is that just entertainment in your world view?

[@unicorndancer357]

May you rest in peace, our beautiful comrade.

[@felixcat9318]

Enthusiasm and self confidence are no substitute for experience and respect for one's own safety! She did the very thing that she had been specifically warned not to do and died because of it.

[@oldageisdumb]

She did what thing she was warned not to do? She didn’t go into Subway on purpose. It was an accident

[@jowbloe4700]

@@oldageisdumb overconfident in knowing how to handle situations. She got into a situation she didn't know how to get out of. Comprende?

[@oldageisdumb]

@@jowbloe4700 No, because that’s not what the OP stated

[@jowbloe4700]

@@oldageisdumb she was warned that she was too inexperienced to be on this course. Her inexperience is what led her to being in the Subway... on accident. He inexperience in what to do is what led to her death.

[@oldageisdumb]

@@jowbloe4700 And when was she warned? The two gentlemen who were putting on the event (two of the best in the sport) invited her out and mentored her. She was staying at his house. He said she was ready and took her on the rapids. He was there when she went down. The second gentleman pulled her body out. She was inexperienced, yes, but people who know (experts.not some keyboard warrior) encouraged her. So not sure where you are getting this info. Unless you think the interviewer of a News show is the expert lol

[@artfisher1235]

The river does not discriminate for race, creed, color or national origin.

[@nubianking4203]

Very true I've flipped in class II rapids before. The river earned my respect that day

[@photog1529]

As Dirty Harry once famously quipped, "A man's gotta know his limitations".

[@ttmike42]

In response to a female whitewater kayaker, he would say "well isn't that stylish".

[@photog1529]

@@ttmike42 The the one quote I hate to read is "At least he/she died doing what he/she loved". Totally stupid. I feel bad for the poor girl...drowning is a terrible way to go. Could be a case where confidence overruled lack of experience.

[@i_love_rescue_animals]

How awful!! I'm so sorry for her, her family and her friends! There was no way she could have saved herself, where she ended up. 💔Amazing that those men were able to find her and return her body to her family.

[@budbabe7145]

Sorry for your loss

[@mikeroullier6875]

I'm a 53year old man that doesn't even know her, and watching this made me cry... so very sad!! I hope the best for her family and friends.. God bless you Shannon

[@oregonxyz]

this kind of stuff is why I ,with over 30 yrs of kayaking experience, just stick to class 1 and 2 water, with the very occasional class 3 kayaking alone did not due her in - nobody could have fished her out of that hole before she died she CHOSE to take on very dangerous water over falls - nuff said

[@timhydeck922]

Being humble can go a long way sometimes.

[@Fock12]

Can't make you breath under water

[@timhydeck922]

@Chase Hexen wow you’re smart

[@Al-ny8dk]

Unbelievable that she would do this without a group working together. I was taught that age 10 - never go out kayaking alone. You never know. And I was on grade 2-3 rivers. In these conditions, no-one even noticed her absence? It took a TV crew to notice? Bizarre.

[@sminter7521]

She went alone, but who knows what happened behind the scenes? We just don’t know the details

[@Tom_McMurtry]

Went with a buddy. They reckon her kayak got pinned against some rocks and she pulled her spray skirt. Her buddy saw her swim and as he was desperately trying to catch her the current forced her down the deadly chute.

[@greenie62]

damn...this felt a little like 'ive climbed in a gym for a bit, lemme go try some of this soloing Yosemite thing."

[@Tom_McMurtry]

She had done many grade 5s before this one.

[@oldageisdumb]

And she wasn’t alone

[@johnnyskied]

Gotta pay your dues. Two years of experience is not enough to tackle that much risk. If you go out backcountry skiing in the fashion she approached kayaking you're dead!

[@flt528]

Apparently, if you go out kayaking in the fashion she approached kayaking you're dead too.

[@greggsilk1689]

It's called "Subway" because the chute goes under a huge boulder. He can stand there at 2:25 because the water is going under the rock. The previous death in this center section was in the next set of ledges upstream, in which the victim was also trapped in a complex of underwater boulders and undercuts at the base of the drop. The "Falls" are the middle of mile long rapids. Every time it floods, huge boulders come from upstream and get stacked by the water. You see a boulder that you figure has been there forever, and then you see a flattened golf ball under it. There are plenty of strainers, many of which are no doubt unknown.

[@jameshepler62]

Amen. Some things are really just better left undone. It’s called “GREAT Falls” for a reason.

[@scubacro5758]

I don't understand the comments on this video, everyone writes that she is "brave and confident" I as a civilian defense diver think she is stupid and inexperienced, she underestimated the river as people underestimate the sea, and that is why the highest price is paid every day all over the world

[@ecoturismovalle1570]

Poor girl. Confidence kills. In hang gliding we call this the intermediate syndrome. Never underestimate nature

[@saleplains]

exactly. just enough skill to get you in to real danger, not enough to get you out. a lesson for everyone really.

[@lindatohara6438]

God bless them men and the man recovered the body Amen

[@whaleshrimp111]

Over confident under experienced boaters don't last long in class 5 water. Especially if they enter class 5 water alone with no shore support. Let's hope she will cause others to move up to class 4 and above once they are ready to, not because no one stopped them.

[@MikeySkywalker]

She had a buddy with her. You can't have shore support all the time. It is amazing to me how many "experts" we have on this thread. www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3743/

[@wmeuse2375]

@@MikeySkywalker to be fair they do say she was alone in the news report.

[@MikeySkywalker]

@@wmeuse2375 I can't remember what this conversation are about. Can you fill me in real quick?

[@wmeuse2375]

@@MikeySkywalker the accident report discription say she has a buddy while the video says she was alone.

[@MikeySkywalker]

@@wmeuse2375 Oh okay thanks. Appreciate you breaking it down. Well, my point is people should never take the word of one other person, one news outlet, or any entity for that matter. The news report was wrong, and if a people just checked any of the other local outlets, they could have just looked at what the accident report actually said.

[@Will-nn6ux]

Oh, that's just heartbreaking. Rip

[@rstats2127]

The kayaking community takes care of each other

[@pappapinskie5883]

This is why i kayak on small lakes that barely have any current lol

[@emilymartin6781]

Yeah me too im happy in a 5 kmph current

[@yupyup9859]

Current its okay its holes you need to watch out for

[@Lemurs]

Same, lul

[@crashhard4578]

I am a surfer and a river rat. I was taught to wear a vest at class 4 rivers well, all, and also taught to have at least 300 miles with the river running at say 650 gallons per minute before going on to each new phase. I ran a 26 mile ride white water everywhere in an hour at 1000 gallons a minute. I did these carefully and put in my time to run class 5 rivers. And even in a swimming pool, never be in the water alone. My heart goes out to his family.

[@YawehthedragondogofEL]

You think you'll live forever following your little rules? Sky and Earth live forever, we men must die.

[@crashhard4578]

I don' think I will live forever. But I will live in Technicolor. Im alive until im dead.If

[@crashhard4578]

And rhe ocean is my home. You dont have the right to assume what I feel by what I can accomplish.

[@crashhard4578]

Troll

[@KSparks80]

650 gal. per minute?? Were you in the gutter in front of your house after it rained?

[@LifeistooshortCK]

Very sad. Sorry for her loss.

[@donaldbethel7317]

R.i.p baby girl 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😓😓

[@danmclaughlin1180]

Very sad & tragic. Accidents can happen no matter how prepared you are in life. Being pinned to rocks with that amount of water pressure you stand no chance.

[@h2w25]

An _average_ man, with _average_ strength who is an _average_ swimmer would have walked away from it.

[@milspecmachine8987]

R.I.P Shannon You Will Be Missed By All 😢😥😓

[@fartingshartingpig5287]

Not by me

[@MrJimShorts]

Man, this report was so dark. If the title didn't give away the ending, it would be a huge WTF. It was wholesome how that kayaking community recovered her body.

[@bonniematthews2500]

mad respect for getting the run in though! sad that no one in the comments are acknowledging that. she died doing something she wanted to do. Kudos to the fellow kayakers for risking their lives to help retrieve her

[@patrickwilliamson29]

Sorry not as much respect from me. This is a sport where you need to check your ego and have an incredibly good understanding of your limitations. Unfortunately it's historically been a male dominated sport and a lot of women getting into it often feel like they have something to prove to be "one of the boys" and it usually ends badly. I never met her personally and this video was obviously heavily edited but she did seem naive and overconfident only having 3 years experience and no safety ropes. Not to mention the fact that 5 people risked their lives getting the body out. We often don't think of the countless numbers of people who have also died trying to get a dead body out from someone who should have known better

[@kayakinginalaska6285]

what a tragedy rest in peace shannon

[@gabos7892]

Mother Nature > You

[@krempo997]

period

[@TJ-vl2zl]

I just started kayaking 2 years ago but I don't do anything this crazy.. you have to respect the water and your kayak...

[@siempreafavor730]

Excellent video and group

[@elliebrown181]

That’s so sad

[@lukasabcdefg5606]

Always important to remember that the sport that we love can be our end if we are not careful. I will keep this video in mind when I go on the river the next time.

[@keving7991]

why was this randomly in my recommended videos almost 8 years later?

[@janesmith8050]

You wonder, when people die while pursuing adrenaline sports if their last thought was "IT WASN'T WORTH IT".

[@RiggadonDan]

That's something everyone who does adrenaline sports needs to ask themselves and come to terms with. It's also important to have healthy respect for nature and the human body.

[@hjong8830]

Very sad, but one can never be confident against Mother Nature.

[@Sparksterfu]

Life is a bitch you live life to the fullest you die young but at least you die doing what you love. Or you can be ordinary and live a life of monotony behind a cubicle owned by someone else all your life. Normally this type of person lives longer but they usually live a boring life that has been lived before by others. Rip

[@axeldave99]

R.I.P Shannon. And to u Steve a true friend and detection to a extreme sport.

[@bobbyswain7049]

So tragic .......RIP young lady

[@FSEVENMAN]

It's a shame, Confidence cannot replace experience......

[@dman3735]

As Dirty Harry stated “A person (sic) has to know their limitations.” Same goes for rock climbing and alpinism.

[@MrMatt-cm6do]

Ok I am going to expose my own limitations here. D Man used substituted the word ‘person’ for the original word ‘man’s’ to make it gender inclusive as to fit this situation, so why wasn’t (sic) the correct expression, which indicated he is acknowledging that his word was intentionally incorrect or a substitution?

[@MrMatt-cm6do]

@Charles McKinley Good to know Charles, thanks! How would one indicate a substitution within a quote?

[@MrMatt-cm6do]

@Charles McKinley Got it, thanks Charles!

[@markbrown5117]

i had an ex-idiot friend try to get me to do this. I said no thanks.

[@fuckoff505]

Overconfidence is a flimsy shield.

[@otterguyty]

Zenyatta 😁

[@hihihihihihi3461]

so is a wooden sq shield

[@Hawk89gt]

a few years experience, sure let's try the hardest rapids there are. Sad, but predictable.

[@treefitty937]

@Ego Master found the incel

[@SirDrAdamB]

@Ego Master This comment is very revealing about who you are...not at all about who she was.

[@northernbrother1258]

"How old were you when you took up kayaking?" "Almost 21." "So, 20 then?"

[@jboyxd6573]

Pretty normal thing to say

[@northernbrother1258]

@@jboyxd6573 Almost normal.

[@jboyxd6573]

@K Bleeker it’s not that serious

[@brandonmann4652]

So sad condolences to the family

[@user-kf1jy9wu8n]

Super sad :( waters no joke, I'm a kayaker myself and some of the hydraulics are beyond insanity :S

[@user-qw7kh4ll3d]

RIP Shannon 💓

[@ParisLondonRoma]

All rivers lull you. The slower ones are just more tricky about it

[@sallybeatty4150]

🙏for Her,her family!

[@hovermaster939]

Tears!!😢