Many of you may have read, seen, or heard reports of the kayaker from Virginia who was rescued from the Potomac River yesterday after her kayak capsized.  I heard on Washington’s NBC 4 yesterday that the woman was spotted from shore by a doctor who was out bird watching along the C&O Canal.  The birder called 911 about 1:15 pm to report the person in the River, and the rescuers got there just in time to save her life (she had been clinging to a tree 60 yards from shore and would not have lasted much longer by the time rescuers reached her by boat).  Today’s Washington Post confirmed the bird watcher’s call to 911.  The kayaker had entered the River at Riley’s Lock, and it appeared to me from the footage on NBC 4 that she was clinging to a tree somewhere in the vicinity of Blockhouse Point downstream from Violette’s Lock.  The rescue boats put in at Violette’s and went downstream to save the kayaker.

Here’s a link to the Post article and some video -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rescuers-win-a-battle-with-the-river/2011/04/18/AFfNvf1D_story.html

Many thanks to the anonymous birder for her or his attention, observation skills, and quick thinking.  I suspect other biking, walking, or running on the towpath might not have seen this person 60 yards out, but a birder with binoculars looking for birds on the River made the difference.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

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