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MSU student dies while kayaking on Gallatin River

Posted: Jun 7, 2012 11:40 AM by KBZK News
Updated: Jun 8, 2012 9:02 AM

RAW: Rescuers on the scene of Gallatin River drowning

A Montana State University student died while kayaking on the Gallatin River on Wednesday.

Harold Vaughan, 21, of Madison County has been identified as the victim, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

At 5:30 p.m. Vaughan's kayaking partner called 911 to report that Vaughan was upside down in his kayak headed down river from the mouth of the Gallatin Canyon, according to the sheriff's department.

Sheriff's Search and Rescue, four deputies, Gateway and Bozeman fire departments, AMR ambulance and Summit Air Ambulance responded to the scene and located Vaughan's kayak wedged upside down into a log jam.

Vaughan was wearing a life vest but not wearing a helmet.

Strong currents and hidden hazards, including logs and rocks, slowed access to the kayak, but rescuers were able to determine Vaughan was still inside the kayak. After extricating Vaughan, resuscitation efforts were started but were unsuccessful, the news release states.

Gallatin River from the mouth of the canyon north is especially dangerous at this time of year because of the number and size of log jams and hidden hazards, according to Sheriff Brian Gootkin.

(Video submitted by Gallatin County Sheriff's Office)