Cautionary Tale - I found a dead angler in the SolDuc this morning

brownheron · Mar 5, 2023

I was floating my home water this morning with a friend visiting from So. Oregon. As we were moving down from our first run, we noticed something sticking up in the knee deep water. It was blue and looked like some of the random things that get washed down the river until we got close. I was in front and as I floated by about 10 feet to the right, I realized it was a dead body. We pulled over, called 911 and checked vitals but it was very obvious from first sight that he was deceased. We assisted with the recovery and gave our statements to the Clallam Deputy Sheriff after the water rescue team transported the body. We continued our float to my house but neither of us felt like fishing at that point so we just floated, talked, and tried to make sense of what we had just experienced. The deputy arrived quickly as did the rescue team that looked to be mostly volunteers. They were fast, especially for a remote and rural location, professional and very considerate of the deceased.

I'll be honest, I'm still pretty effed up inside after this. Thinking about his family along with the mental image of how I found him in the water is tough. If anyone on here knows them, my sincere heartfelt condolences.

I float this short stretch by myself all the time and I've been pretty casual about it, foregoing life jackets, not really worrying about anything as I know pretty much every rock.

Not any more. I committed to my wife that I'll always wear a life jacket (this angler was not wearing one) regardless of whether it's totally flat water or scary rapids.

Please be safe out there.

Fisherman found deceased in Sol Duc River | Peninsula Daily News

FORKS — A fisherman was found dead Sunday morning on a river bank in the Sol Duc River, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

www.peninsuladailynews.com

DanielOcean · Mar 5, 2023

At a loss for words. Very sorry you had to go through something like that. Terrible.

Stonedfish · Mar 5, 2023

Thomas,
Very sorry you had to experience this.
The gentleman you found was a hell of a punt returner for the UW Huskies.
SF

Long_Rod_Silvers · Mar 5, 2023

Having experienced something like this (up in Kamloops at a lake), Im guessing I kinda know how you're feeling right now @Thomas Mitchell .

One thing that helped me, keep an eye out for his obituary. For some reason, reading the guy's obituary made me feel much better inside.

Brute · Mar 5, 2023

I’m sorry you had to have had this experience…I’ve had a similar one over 30 years ago in Hawaii; a shore fisherman was swept off the rocks/cliff from a big wave (assumed)…we were driving our boat and saw him in the water…he was dead for some time.

M_D · Mar 5, 2023

Thomas Mitchell said:
I was floating my home water this morning with a friend visiting from So. Oregon. As we were moving down from our first run, we noticed something sticking up in the knee deep water. It was blue and looked like some of the random things that get washed down the river until we got close. I was in front and as I floated by about 10 feet to the right, I realized it was a dead body. We pulled over, called 911 and checked vitals but it was very obvious from first sight that he was deceased. We assisted with the recovery and gave our statements to the Clallam Deputy Sheriff after the water rescue team transported the body. We continued our float to my house but neither of us felt like fishing at that point so we just floated, talked, and tried to make sense of what we had just experienced. The deputy arrived quickly as did the rescue team that looked to be mostly volunteers. They were fast, especially for a remote and rural location, professional and very considerate of the deceased.

I'll be honest, I'm still pretty effed up inside after this. Thinking about his family along with the mental image of how I found him in the water is tough. If anyone on here knows them, my sincere heartfelt condolences.

I float this short stretch by myself all the time and I've been pretty casual about it, foregoing life jackets, not really worrying about anything as I know pretty much every rock.

Not any more. I committed to my wife that I'll always wear a life jacket (this angler was not wearing one) regardless of whether it's totally flat water or scary rapids.

Please be safe out there.

Fisherman found deceased in Sol Duc River | Peninsula Daily News

FORKS — A fisherman was found dead Sunday morning on a river bank in the Sol Duc River, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

www.peninsuladailynews.com

So sorry to read this for you and your friend....let alone the deceased and his family.

I did 29 years in law enforcement, 20 of those years were as a CSI. Deaths are never easy, especially when someone dies traumatically. I still carry baggage from some scenes and this was after knowingly responding to them. I can only imagine the shock you might be feeling after happening upon such a scene.

I was provided resources for how to process/deal with especially traumatic or shocking scenes. I'm guessing you have been provided nothing.

One helpful bit of information I was told is something like this can affect the brain like any other injury....meaning that it could take 2-3 weeks before you find yourself feeling better and getting back to normal....sleep-wise, emotionally, etc. Should you find any problems lasting longer, consider getting outside help. In addition to this, be open with your partner and friend.

I wish you well,

Mike d

Josh · Mar 5, 2023

Damn dude, that's a hell of a thing. Put a beer on my tab, friend.

Shad · Mar 5, 2023

So sorry you had to be the one, but thank goodness someone found the poor soul.

Best wishes to you and the bereaved....

Any day we get on the river and back off without incident is a great day....

brownheron · Mar 5, 2023

Thanks all for the public and private sentiments.

It's hard not to imagine my own family getting that call from the sheriff's office. As fellow anglers, I know we all feel terrible for what his family is now dealing with.

It's easy to forget how serious this stuff can be.

t_law · Mar 5, 2023

Joe was a good friend of mine. I just got the news a few hours ago from another buddy of ours. We had a lot of good times together, he'll be missed by a lot of folks. Be safe out there.

skyriver · Mar 5, 2023

Sorry you had to be the one to find him Thomas. It may sound weird now, but thank God you found him before his body was lost for good. It may help the family somehow process this tragedy a little bit better.

RIP #21

Billy · Mar 5, 2023

Dang man. Tuff day all around

dutchR · Mar 5, 2023

Sorry you had that day.
Joe was a great guy ... a great dad ... and a great husband. I'm heartbroken for his wife and 2 kids.

JayB · Mar 5, 2023

Dang man - that's incredibly rough.

Some friends of mine were out kayaking on a swift, cold river back east, were informed that a terrible tragedy had transpired involving more than one victim (no need to go into the details here) , and spent the rest of the afternoon methodically working their way in and out of every eddy looking for bodies.

They weren't able to recover any the victims, but even being involved in that sort of an effort put a heck of an emotional load on them and had them feeling off for days and took a while to work through on their next few trips out to the river - and that was mild compared to what you experienced.

Everything about the incident sounds just awful, but you did the family an important service by handling the situation with such attentiveness and care, and seeing to it that their loved one was recovered as quickly as possible, and I hope that knowing that will ultimately bring you some comfort.

Kado · Mar 5, 2023

Sobering. Helps me to remember to appreciate all the little things. My thoughts for both you and his family. Hope you can still get out on the river when you're ready.

Richard Olmstead · Mar 5, 2023

So sorry for the man’s family, but also my condolences to you for the trauma you experienced.

O' Clarkii Stomias · Mar 6, 2023

It is my hope that you will find peace with the traumatic experience you were placed in. I wish nothing but the best for the deceased's family. A gentle reminder for all, we must take care in our endeavors to make it home afterwards. As I have witnessed too many times, the poor, and somewhat selfish decisions of some, make a huge and long lasting effect on the survivors. Be safe out there.

mooseknuckles · Mar 6, 2023

Wishing you well with your recovery and condolences to those who lost a loved one.

Canuck from Kansas · Mar 6, 2023

There is nothing I can say for add that hasn't already been said. Just wishing you and your friend well. Take care Sir.

Pipeman · Mar 6, 2023

My deepest condolences to you, your friend, and Joe's family. A very sad day. I find myself hesitating to go by myself where in the past I would have bounded off like an eager pup. I ask the question, what could possibly go wrong? The most important part of any adventure is coming home to sleep, peacefully, in your own bed. The ripples from an event like this touch a lot people. Take care.