By Sean Longoria
Record Searchlight
REDDING, Calif — More than two dozen members of a Central California Scout troop were pulled from the Sacramento River in Redding on Tuesday after their canoes tipped over and sent them into the chilly waters.
Dispatchers first reported the overturned canoes at about 1 p.m. on the river near the South Bonnyview boat ramp.
Redding police, firefighters, medics and Shasta County sheriff’s rescue and boating safety crews quickly responded to the ramp, where the group had started to come ashore.
A sheriff’s boat hit the water shortly after 1:30 p.m., eventually bringing four people and two canoes to the ramp.
The boaters had deputies and firefighters scrambling to figure out who had been accounted for, and who might be missing.
They asked group members to gather while troop leaders counted heads. All members of the group were accounted for by about 2 p.m.
Bob Whitaker, leader of Scout Troop 439 of Manteca, said he, six other adults, and 19 Scouts between 14 and 18 years old, were canoeing on the river, heading south toward the boat ramp.
The canoes started tipping almost immediately as they hit the water, Whitaker said. “Somebody had tipped right after we’d gone a half mile,” he said.
The troop, he said, planned the canoeing trip a year ago.
“A year ago when we planned it we weren’t expecting the historic water releases,” Whitaker said. “So the water, instead of being 4 or 5 mph, today was 12 or 14 mph.”
The canoes kept tipping about every half mile on the river, he said, plunging the Scouts into the water that was about 50 degrees.
“It was a little bit too turbulent and fast for the boys so after we’d taken a few spills we thought we’d better get out of the water,” Whitaker said.
The adults on the trip were experienced outdoorsmen and all the boaters were wearing life jackets, he said. “I feel good that we were prepared as we could be.” Whitaker said. “There’s always a little risk involved in anything.
“The whole point is to give the boys some life experience but hopefully not lose their lives in getting that experience, so that’s why we’re going to call it quits for today.”
Whitaker said the troop, which had planned the river outing for Tuesday and today, may stick to fishing for the remainder of the trip. He was thankful for the quick response from the emergency crews.
“This is when I don’t mind paying taxes,” Whitaker said.
Reporters Jenny Espino and Joe Szydlowski contributed to this story.
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