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Park rangers release report on drowning

By Jackie Beranek 4 min read

Several people saw Matthew Painley screaming for help but were unable to rescue him from drowning in the Youghiogheny River Saturday. The Ohiopyle State park rangers released an official report of the drowning Tuesday and it details a frustrating and agonizing rescue attempt to save Painley, 19, of Hopwood.

According to the official report compiled by park ranger Floyd E. Hawk, several witnesses said they saw Painley just up stream from the mouth of Cucumber Run at around 12:30 p.m., when they heard him shouting for help as he washed past them in the middle of the river.

The witnesses also told park rangers that they were unable to get any closer than 30 feet from Painley before he slipped off a log and was swept down the river out of their sight.

Hawk said the witnesses then left to find a phone to call 911 for help.

Hawk said rangers got the 911 call reporting “a man in the river at the mouth of Meadow Run shouting for help” shortly before 1 p.m.

Hawk said he responded to the scene along with Ohiopyle and Stewart volunteer firefighters and found Dan Bickel, assistant park operations manager, returning from the river.

“Dan told us that he questioned some fishermen in the area, but none of them reported seeing or hearing anyone in trouble,” said Hawk. “Bickel then located two kayakers on Meadow Run upstream and asked if they would paddle down river to the Loop to search for a victim.”

Hawk said as emergency personnel prepared to do this, a volunteer firefighter reported by radio that he had the person who called 911 at his location near Cucumber Falls.

“I proceeded to that location as Bickel and the volunteer firefighters headed to the Loop takeout area and High Bridge,” said Hawk. “At Cucumber Falls, I was informed by a volunteer firefighter and an unidentified man and woman that a man wearing a blue wetsuit had been washed downstream toward the middle of the river, past Cucumber Run and he was shouting for help.”

Hawk said the man and woman tried but could not catch up to Painley along the shore. Hawk said he relayed the information to Bickel but at least 20 minutes had gone by since Painley was last seen.

Hawk said he joined Bickel at High Bridge and saw the two kayakers as they padded past Loop takeout to search down river. Others were searching along the Great Gorge Trail and along the Ferncliff Trail.

Hawk said by this time Eric Martin and Scott Downs of Wilderness Voyagers, where Painley was a guide, also joined the search on the river in kayaks trailing as a sweep.

“At some point, the victim’s red/orange kayak and paddle were found by kayakers Andrew P. Kirby and William W. Clipper at Camel-Walrus Rapid, river left,” said Hawk.

Hawk said at that time he and Bickel proceeded down the bike trail and Douglas Hoehn, park manager of Ohiopyle State Park, joined the search, as did members of the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department and Stat MedEvac helicopter.

“Stat helicopter spotted the victim floating near Swimmer’s Rapid and he was then located along the river right by Kirby and Clipper,” said Hawk. “Painley was found floating face down with his life jacket and helmet still on at about 3:48 p.m.”

Hawk said rescuers could not find a pulse or breathing and began CPR on Painley. He also said that rescuers had to cut Painley’s life jacket from his body in order to administer CPR.

Hawk said Painley was pronounced dead by Stat MedEvac flight nurse John Bactica at 4:50 p.m. under the director of the on board flight emergency room doctor. Hawk said CPR had been administered for about one hour prior to the pronouncement.

Hawk also said that Ohiopyle Trading Post owner Joel Means said he saw and spoke with Painley at about 12:15 p.m. at the launch area.

Hawk said Means and his party of five others were preparing to launch their raft when Painley arrived, looked at the gauge reading that read 7 feet plus and shook his head no.

Hawk said Means and his party launched, assuming Painley was not going to paddle at that level. The river was reportedly high that day from the melting snow.

Hawk also said that he was at the launch area earlier in the day and saw Painley carrying his kayak from the parking lot area to the kiosk, where he signed the registration sheet at 12:15 p.m.

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