GLEN JEAN, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – According to the National Park Service, a rafter drowned on Friday, September 10, the first day of Gauley Season.
Eve West, Chief of Interpretation at New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River, said at 10 a.m. on Friday, a call came in detailing that a raft had flipped on the second drop of the Lost Paddle Rapids. Lost Paddle Rapids, which is broken up into four main drops, is a Class V rapid and the longest single rapid on the river.
Clinton Brame’s body was recovered from the water around 5:30 p.m. on Friday. West explained that when the raft flipped Brame swam to the left, while the rest of his group swam to the right. Brame was carried through the rapid’s third drop and was pinned in a narrow opening on the fourth and last drop.
Division of Natural Resources was involved with the search, and the US Army Corp of Engineers stopped releases to lower water levels, which enabled rescue teams to recover the body.