Kayaker Dies Following Fall from Cliff Along Sacramento River
A Mount Shasta man was exiting an upper section of the Sacramento River just east of Lake Siskiyou when he fell off the edge of a cliff. Although his companion and a local doctor rushed to his aid to tend to his injuries and perform CPR, the man died from his injuries.
61-year-old Leif Convers Hansen succumbed to his injuries during the tragic accident around 5:30 pm on May 9. The incident occurred just east of Box Canyon Dam, which is the dam that impounds Lake Siskiyou, eventually pushing water down the Upper Sacramento River.
“On behalf of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to the decedent, his family, and friends in the aftermath of his tragic death,” said Siskiyou County Sheriff Sheriff Jon Lopey. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Hansen’s companions and commend them for the extraordinary efforts to rescue and revive him after his fall.”
Witnesses say that Convers was trying to carry his kayak out of the grade near Box Canyon Dam when he slipped and slid down the steep area. As he built momentum sliding down the hill, he eventually fell off the cliff.
The accident sent shockwaves through the enthusiastic outdoor community of Mount Shasta. Hansen was an experienced kayaker and wearing a helmet during the excursion. The accident will most likely lead officials to reconsider safety measures in the area.
“Some times it’s the experienced people. Everybody has to kind of give pause and be careful what they are doing and realize this can happen to anyone,” Lopey said.
