Blog

Jun 28, 2023

Rafter drowns in Lotus ‘strainer’

A man who was rafting on the South Fork of the American River in the Lotus area Tuesday afternoon drowned when he became entrapped in tree branches, according to Capt. Jacob Poganski with the El

A man who was rafting on the South Fork of the American River in the Lotus area Tuesday afternoon drowned when he became entrapped in tree branches, according to Capt. Jacob Poganski with the El Dorado County Fire Protection District. Rescuers and bystanders formed a human chain to pull the man from the river but it was too late.

Salinas resident Stanley Rice, 81, was reportedly riding on a raft with two women downstream of Henningsen Lotus Park. Poganski told the Mountain Democrat Rice became submerged underwater, caught in branches in what whitewater recreationists call “a strainer.” Initial reports indicated the boat may have been wrapped around a tree that was pushing into the victim.

Emergency responders were called to the scene at about 1:14 p.m.

The two women who had been aboard the raft were able to get to safety on their own.

After the man was pulled out of the water firefighters began life-saving measures, Poganski noted, but paramedics on scene ultimately declared the victim deceased.

Cal Fire and Garden Valley Fire Protection District crews assisted in the response.

Log In

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming anotherperson will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyoneor anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ismthat is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link oneach comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitnessaccounts, the history behind an article.