A hike along California’s popular Seven Teacups trail turned into an unimaginable tragedy when three hikers died after being sucked into a powerful whirlpool.
The three hikers, David Bell, 48, Jeannine Skinner, 34 and Peter On, 48, were all from Utah. According to the L.A. Times, “David Bell loved the outdoors and was looking forward to crossing the Seven Teacups trail in the Sierra Nevada off his bucket list. On Friday, the 48-year-old Utah resident finally embarked on the trail around noon with 13 friends, according to his sister, Summerisa Bell Stevens.” The article says that among them were his “dear friend” Jeannine Skinner and his fellow outdoorsman, Peter On.
“It was a hike that would end in tragedy, when all three friends apparently drowned in a pool at the end of the hike along the Kern River in what family members are calling a “freak accident.”
Inside Edition reports that the three hikers were “making their way through breathtaking canyons in the Sierra Nevada mountains when Skinner was caught in a raging whirlpool. The two men jumped in to help, but all three perished.”
According to the article, “David Bell’s sister, Cyndi Bell Miller, posted to social media that rescuers tried to revive the three, but were too late. “They were able to get the bodies out in about seven minutes … and kept doing CPR for about 20 minutes, but they were not able to revive any of them,” she wrote. All were experienced outdoors people, Bell’s family told Inside Edition.”
This terrible tragedy has many people wondering what exactly is a whirlpool and how can you survive one? According to Live Science, “fast-flowing currents in oceans and rivers constantly change direction. Whirlpools are phenomena that form when water moving in two different directions comes into contact with each other and interact in an unusual way. They can’t continue to travel at the same speed and direction through each other, so they are forced to turn and swirl around each other.”
Whirlpools are scary and can be found in a variety of sizes (larger ones are called maelstroms) and places like at the bottom of waterfall, in river rapids, oceans and tsunamis.
Live Science says, “according to World Champion kayaker, Ken Whiting, you need to make sure to wear protective gear when entering the water, such as a life vest and helmet. These can protect you from the harsh currents surrounding whirlpools. If you see any signs of whirlpools, it is best not to enter the water at all.
In the event of entering a whirlpool, you shouldn’t move in the same direction as the water flow and should aim for the outer edge rather than the center. When in a boat or kayak, try to prevent the boat from filling with water. In some instances, the whirlpool can throw you back out, according to Smithsonian Magazine.”
Of course, if you’re not planning to enter a whirlpool and are not wearing any kind of protective gear, here are some tips to help you survive:
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Devastating to hear about the hikers lost in the California whirlpool accident. This serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s power.