Whitewater Rescue with Paddle Board

On a popular Class 4 creek in North Carolina, two paddle boarders rescue their kayak friend who was pinned backward in a strainer.
Hank, Will, and Baker were paddling together on the Big Laurel when Baker in a kayak was caught by the partially submerged log.
Listen to the conversation on the SUPPAUL Podcast episode 58 podcasters.spo...
He was unable to release his skirt, trapping him in his boat with his head barely out of the water.
Though able to breathe, he did swallow a lot of water.
Hank and Will were paddling shortly behind him on whitewater-specific paddle boards.
Hank secured Baker, pulled the skirt from the boat, and paddled him to shore promptly and efficiently perhaps saving Baker's life. Will gathered gear, including Baker's boat.
They all were able to hike out together, but Baker did suffer from asphyxiation pneumonia afterward.
We'll be talking with all three in an upcoming episode of the SUPPAUL Podcast. What went wrong that day? What went right?
Thanks for watching. The video is shot on Hank's helmet-cam and he is the owner of the content.
Get a Hala Paddle Board:
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My site is www.suppaul.com/
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FB Page: / suppaulclark (but rarely on FB these days)

[@onemiketheartist]

That is insane. You saved this guys life. Respect

[@BenLandersMedia]

That was wild to watch man, what a great rescue. Definitely good to think about how to react in these situations, thanks for posting!

[@addybugz5447]

Amazing paddle board rescue. Shout out to the hero! ❤

[@user-eo5hx8zq4r]

Parking the SUP on the strainer was impressive. Seeing the skirt right away and pulling the freedom cord for the boater even moreso. Great job!

[@CyBORG1208]

Great rescue. Paddle boards are underrated when it comes to being effective rescue crafts, at least in the hands of a solid paddler. I have witnessed my paddleboard friends fish out a few swimmers quite easily. This was a scary one, glad y'all were there and able to get him. Quick reactions and cool heads. Props.

[@SCPVIDEOPRODUCTION]

This is so educational! Thank you for posting and saving his life.

[@Bdohazelnuts]

Exceptionally good rescue. Good communication, timely decision making. That very well hidden log in a relatively innocuous rapid is why you should NEVER paddle alone. The boater was extremely lucky that you got to him when you did.

[@willm6705]

good rescue !! the victim was almost incoherent... you got him just in time. any update ??

[@followxiaofei]

Holy crap. How long had he been able to hang on like that? Well done.

[@TheCenterfocus]

Good job! Well done gentlemen 💪

[@BBProductions4You]

So glad you guys were there to save Baker. Thanks for pulling the Grab Loop. Amen

[@bugiard0]

crazy, you were perfect in the rescue. congratulations you are great

[@justin_other_kayaker]

I’ve seen a death close up from a strainer and this is so hard to watch and at the same time so good to see. Thanks for posting this.

[@angihansen4220]

Wow, what a rescue! And that’s a different pin situation then I've seen before - I’d be curious to hear how he wound up stuck downstream of the log.

[@WatersmithGuild]

Great save!

[@johnmraz4000]

Holy shit that was awesome! I’m buying y’all a round if I ever run into you

[@user-so1mv9po2f]

Shit happens fast, FB9 and Big Laurel are my to favorite runs

[@scottybeegood]

Good save!

[@richedwards4590]

Good job

[@jamesmallard3386]

Please turn on autocaptions in youtube.

[@fredodofre]

Thanks for sharing. I just bought a kayak in order to keep going on whitewater after a ankle injury. But youtube keeps showing me near death videos of kayakers in situations that I think I could have managed safely in a SUP. Maybe it wasn't a good idea...

[@georgeevans3823]

Know the grades you are going to paddle and don't paddle beyond your skill set, paddle with friends, scout rapids.

[@fredodofre]

@@georgeevans3823 thanks. Indeed I think I have bad habits with SUP. I use the high viewpoint of the SUP to avoid most of the scouting, I use the fact that SUP is lightweight and can be packed to do a lot of soloing (coming back by public transport, inch-hiking or by foot), and I sometimes paddle grade 4, knowing that my skills are more around grade 3