EAGLE, Idaho — An Eagle man died after a kayaking accident on the Boise River on Monday, Oct. 9, close to Duck Alley Rd in Eagle. The Ada County Coroner's Office identified 69-year-old James Laughlin of Eagle as the kayaker.
The Meridian Fire Department (MFD) said they responded to a water rescue call on the Boise River around 3. p.m., where two people were kayaking on the river. The Kayakers struck a tree and flipped, submerging and trapping Laughlin under a log inside his kayak.
According to MFD, when Ada County Sheriff's Deputies arrived, they tried to rescue the kayaker, but the force of the water was too strong. At 4 p.m., the firefighters cleared enough vegetation to reach the kayaker, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Yesterday's tragedy is a stark reminder that this stretch of the river is extremely dangerous and not meant for recreation," MFD said in a news release. "Unlike the Boise River near Barber Park, this stretch is not maintained and can be extremely dangerous to individuals trying to recreate, including swimming and kayaking. In addition, untrimmed trees and hazards in the river make it incredibly dangerous for first responders to complete rescues.
The MFD extended their condolences to Laughlin's family.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident.
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