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Man's body recovered from Chattooga rapids
By
Anna B. Brutzman LONG CREEK — The body of a Greenville man last seen alive more than a week ago was recovered Sunday afternoon from the Chattooga River.
An
adept member of the paddling community, 40-year-old Keith Green was
reported missing Nov. 9 after he was separated from his kayak and was
seen swimming above the right crack in the treacherous
"Crack-in-the-Rock" rapid of the river’s fourth section, family
spokesman Pat Patterson said Sunday.
Mr. Patterson, himself a former paddler, first befriended Mr. Green 10 years ago in a Greenville café when they discovered a mutual interest in the high-adrenaline sport. Many fellow paddlers have thought, he said, about what must have gone wrong on the Chattooga last week. "It’s just fate," he said. "That’s what it boils down to." The river’s gauge on Nov. 9 near the rapids read 1.5, Mr. Patterson said. Experienced kayakers knew that meant the water level below would be little over two feet and turbulent — Mr. Green had been through that stretch dozens of times. Kayakers who were with him said he made it through "Entrance," the first of five rapids in the section. When he reached "Corkscrew," he rolled his boat a few times and it got away from him. "They saw him within 5 feet of the right side of the river," Mr. Patterson said. Mr. Green’s body was recovered at 2 p.m. Sunday. Rescue personnel had located him on Tuesday but were unable to reach him because of the strong current and depth of the water. By Friday, water levels had lowered and officials resumed their recovery operation. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis said Sunday that drowning was the likely cause of death. Mr. Patterson said his friend’s skills were especially remarkable considering he had a medical condition that impaired his sight — retinitis pigmentosa, or tunnel vision. "He was an adventurer," Mr. Patterson said. "He’s just on another one now." |
