Three Utah tourists tragically drowned after being caught in a whirlpool while canyoneering at the Kern River in California. The victims were Jeannine Skinner, 34, David Bell, 48, and Pete On, 48. The incident occurred on Friday while they were exploring the Seven Teacups trail in Tulare County, about 80 miles northeast of Bakersfield.
Incident details
The group was nearing the end of their canyoneering adventure when they jumped from a four-foot drop into a small pool. Jeannine was the first to be caught in a whirlpool created by a circular current, possibly due to a large log or rock in the area. When she failed to resurface, David and Pete immediately jumped in to rescue her.
Pete initially managed to escape the current and reached out to Jeannine, but she was unable to grab his hand. He then re-entered the water to attempt another rescue. David, seeing Pete unconscious, also went back into the whirlpool to help him. Unfortunately, all three lost consciousness in the water.
Despite being recovered within ten minutes, the trio was pronounced dead at the scene.
Reactions and remembrances
Family members and friends expressed their grief and paid tribute to the victims. David’s sister, Summerisa Bell Stevens, described the circular current that trapped the three in the whirlpool and recounted Pete’s heroic attempt to save Jeannine. Valecia Green, another sister of David, spoke of the profound loss felt by their community, stating, “These are three amazing, amazing individuals that will be very missed by family, friends, and the community at large.”
The tragic incident has brought the community together in mourning, with friends and family sharing their memories and support on a Facebook group named “David, Jeannine, Pete Celebration of Life and Friendship.”
This devastating accident highlights the dangers of canyoneering and the unpredictable nature of natural water bodies, reminding adventurers to exercise extreme caution when engaging in such activities.