Ladders to water proposed after canoe accident

A man who tried in vain Sunday to rescue a submerged 7-year-old boy has begun an effort to add “Benjamin” ladders to the abutments on the Spokane River where a canoe trapped the boy underwater.

Denny Reed used his climbing gear to try to help Benjamin Morin, who was trapped underwater for about 20 minutes until rescuers were able to reach him and pull him to safety on Sandifur Memorial Bridge near People’s Park.

“It would just make sense that if there is a manmade obstacle there ought to be a manmade way to breach it,” Reed said.

“I’m not saying there needs to be docks or signs everywhere. There just needs to be a river-friendly solution to the problem we had there this weekend.”

Benjamin’s parents, David and Jill Morin, issued a statement Tuesday updating the status of their son, who remained in critical condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

“We are so appreciative of what the firemen, policemen and bystanders did to help save Benjamin,” David Morin wrote.

“We also appreciate everyone’s continued prayers for his complete recovery.”

Reed said he’s open to ideas and input but thinks a ladder would be a simple solution to allow rescuers to reach the water or allow people to crawl out of the danger posed by the currents swirling around the abutments.

“It’s impossible to overreact to safety precautions in an ever-changing environment,” Reed said.

Spokane Fire Department Capt. Kevin McCollum, who supervises the Swift Water Rescue Team, applauded Reed’s efforts to save Benjamin.

“I’d like to have (Reed) on my swift water team,” McCollum said.

“I’m all behind him with the merit and the reasoning behind (the ladder idea). I’d back anything that would help us save somebody’s life. But I think we have to look a little closer at the pitfalls.”

The main concern regarding ladders would be people misusing them to climb down to the rushing river or to jump in the water, he said.

“We always build things around the problem to make it better for the next time,” McCollum said.

“I wish we could see those problems for folks ahead of time.”

Paul Delaney, the president of the Northwest Whitewater Association, said he thinks the ladder idea would be a bit of an overreaction.

He noted that four people seemed to be excessive for a canoe that appeared to be designed only for lake use and not for moving river water.

“I’m a dad and I can’t imagine having a situation like that, where my kid would be fighting for his life. But the bottom line is, I think the people were in over their head,” Delaney said.

“We need to try to draw some awareness to some safety issues on the river and the use of common sense.”

Benjamin was submerged in the same area where boating enthusiasts and economic development proponents have planned to construct a whitewater park next summer. Had that park been open Saturday, Delaney said several experienced kayakers would have been available to help Benjamin.

“If you look back at the accidents that occur on the river in white water, they are generally people who are inexperienced or had inadequate equipment,” Delaney said.

Reed spoke with the Morin family. He said they all were wearing flotation devices and had consulted a guide book, written by Spokesman-Review writers Rich Landers and Dan Hansen, which included warnings of the currents around the abutments.

“The general public that we have here in Spokane is attracted to the outdoors. Not everyone is going to be the elite level that it might require to use that river,” Reed said.

“I think some sort of mechanical assistance would be perfect.”