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Rescued kayaker now trains others for emergencies(Charleston Gazette, The (WV) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 25--FAYETTEVILLE -- A brush with death in Colorado's Arkansas River six years ago motivated kayaker and whitewater guide Brandon Holmes to overcome his fear, continue to face paddling challenges, and become an instructor in rescue skills in swift water and on cliffs. While kayaking through Brown's Canyon on the Arkansas with a training trip for guides in the spring of 2000, Holmes swam out of his boat and his spray skirt became snagged between rocks. Pinned, he struggled in the swift, icy water to keep his head above the surface. Another guide held Holmes' head to allow him to breathe when his fingers grew too numb to grip. After 15 minutes, he was cut free and taken to shore, hypothermic and nearly in shock. "It was a humbling experience -- one that made me recognize the power of nature at work," said Holmes. "I guess I had a personal motivation to receive training and pass it on to others." A whitewater guide since 1997 who has worked on the New and Gauley rivers for Class VI River Runners since 2000, the 28-year-old Holmes is now the owner of New River Rescue Center. In February, the West Virginia Fire Commission accredited NRRC's curriculum so that state firefighters can receive credits in swift water rescue and technical rope rescue. Last fall, Holmes' firm was accredited by Rescue 3 International, a California-based organization that trains and certifies emergency personnel around the world in rope and water rescues. After completing a series of training workshops for more than 200 students in Colorado in April, May and early June, Holmes is now operating NRRC out of its Eastern Regional Training Center, at the Class VI River Runners complex at Lansing. On Saturdays, he boards a kayak and serves as Class VI's video boater, and he remains a staff kayak instructor for the outfitter. By partnering with Class VI in the rescue school venture, lodging and meal plans are available to those attending New River Rescue Center classes, and training sites are close at hand. Last week, training clients included an eight-person rescue squad operated through the Lewisburg Fire Department, which includes personnel from the White Sulphur Springs and Fairlea volunteer fire departments and Greenbrier County Emergency Medical Services. A sheer, 60-foot cliff overlooking the New River Gorge Bridge, located on the Class VI property, served as the classroom. "We start out by having them learn about climbing hardware, rope handling and the knots used in climbing," Holmes said. "Then we move into rappelling and belaying, assisted ascents, and the use of pulleys and other rescue systems. In their next session, we'll get into raising and lowering litters." "It's been one of my best rope classes ever," said Gary Workman, Lewisburg Fire Department captain, and head of the interdepartmental technical rope rescue squad receiving the NRRC training. "I like the hands-on, equipment-oriented approach," he said, after rappelling down and climbing up the cliff, as well as handling safety-belay duties. "We've learned a lot, and the class is going to help us determine what gear we're going to need. And you can't get this kind of training anywhere nearby. West Virginia University has a two-day class, but that's about it." There is no shortage of practical applications for the training the squad is receiving, he said. "There are a lot of cliffs, hiking trails, billboards, cell phone towers, silos and caves in our area where people can get hurt." Learning and teaching swift water rescue has helped Holmes work past fear-related issues while serving as a whitewater guide. Immediately after his near-drowning incident in Colorado, he routinely became physically ill while working as a guide on whitewater streams. With time, his new knowledge and enhanced skills helped him put his fear in perspective, and the nausea subsided. "I was able to overcome some major fear," said Holmes. "But when I'm teaching a swift-water course and it's time to swim in the whitewater with the students, I still get a little sick." On the Net: www.newriverres cuecenter.com. To contact staff writer Rick Steelhammer, use e-mail or call 348-5169. |