NICKERSON, Kan. – We’ve now learned the one of the victims of a canoe accident on the Arkansas River near Nickerson has died as a result of the accident.
Jerry Patton of Hutchinson was canoeing on the Arkansas River with his son, 38-year-old Justin Patton and his two grand daughters, ages 12 and 10. They had two canoe’s that capsized in the area of 30th & Dean Rd.
Jerry Patton struggled in the water and was having difficulty breathing. Rescue personnel had difficulty reaching the location where the canoe capsized because of mud issues. A helicopter was able to remove Jerry from the scene. He was pronounced dead in Wichita around 3 p.m.
The four had put their canoes in the water at 8 a.m. Friday morning in anticipation of being picked up at F and Monroe later in the morning. After four and a half hours, family members became concerned and requested a welfare check. Shortly after the welfare check was put out, 911 Dispatch received a call from Justin Patton that they had been in the canoe. He reported that the canoes had capsized. He reported that he had to walk to a field and contact an individual with a phone since all of their phone were disabled by the water.
Fire, EMS and Reno County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and were unable to drive into the river due to mud and had to walk in over a 1/4 mile to the victim. Lifeteam Helicopter was requested and the individual was flown to a hospital in Wichita.
Sheriff Randy Henderson says in a news release that without an emergency declaration, law enforcement cannot keep person’s out of the swift moving water. However says Sheriff Henderson, Emergency Management and the Sheriff’s Office is recommending that person’s stay out of flooded area’s with swift moving water due to submerged debris and other hazards.