Fatal Kayaking Accident - Ben Earle

Date of post: Friday June 6th 2008

Photo by Josh Firth

Friends and Paddling Community, 

As i'm sure many of you are now already aware. Ben Earle, Age 25, Drowned while kayaking down a creek in BC - Canada

On Sunday ben and i put on to Finn Creek, Within the first 1km Ben was sucked underneath a log that was not visible from the waters surface and unable to pull his skirt. Many attempts to rescue him failed and after 30mins I had to leave to call 911.

After 2 and a half days of rescue attempts by the search and rescue (Many of them Ben's close personal friends), managed to pull Ben, and the boat he was paddling out. Ben sustained no major injuries and close relatives and friends have had the chance to go and visit him before being cremated. A service will be held for him in his canadian home of Clearwater- BC on Saturday.

Ben died doing something he loved, exploring a new river. He died not due to a fatal mistake of judgment or going outside his more than capable paddling ability. He was simply claimed by a log that he could not see, even after standing directly in front of it to scout, unawares of the danger lurking beneath the surface. A tragic incident indeed.

Ben Earle is Probably the most competent and experienced river user i know. Growing up in Tasmania Australia, he was exposed to the way of life that came with running rivers at an early age compared to many. In a relatively short time he has rafted and kayaked all over the world and introduced hundreds if not thousands of people to the joys of the river. He was a sponsored paddler for fluid kayaks and WRSI helmets and a great contributer to river safety in the paddling community. He was one of the key organisors of the clearwater river festival and is a devastating loss to the paddling community in general, not to mention his his family and friends.

I do not wish to leave to many details of the incident here, but if anybody would like further information on the incident, updates on service arrangments or to be put in touch with any of Ben's family and friends, I will do my best to bring you into the loop.

I am contactable @ goboatingaus(@gmail.com)

and you can try calling me on +1 250 674 7001

Ben is and was one of my closest friends, It is a very difficult loss for me personally to deal with. But our thoughts and prayers must go out to Ben's Family, Mum, Dad, Sister and Brother Especially his Wife Robin and his two beautiful children Rio and Finn who will miss their father greatly 

Ben and I feeling a bit seedy after a big first night of the clearwater river festival

 Bens with some of his close friends, (from left) Jimmy, Ben, Boz, Thorpie and Matt on a trip down the Stein River in 2007

Rest in peace Benji

Adrian Kiernan