WI Man Drowns in Locsha River | News

Despite efforts to save him, a Wisconsin man drowned Saturday in the fast-moving Locsha River.

35-year old Randy Eroen of Sun Prairie, WI was rafting with three other people in Idaho County. They hit a rapid and all four people were thrown from the raft. Two were able to get back into the raft and one swam safely to shore. One of the kayakers who was accompanying Eroen threw him a life rope, but he was unable to reach it and was swept down the river.

The kayakers caught up to Eroen and pulled him out of the water at Highway 12 near milepost 132. They started CPR and were assisted in their life-saving efforts by other members of Eroen's rafting party, but they were not able to save him.

The Idaho County Sheriff's Office says it's not clear right now whether or not any of the rafters and kayakers were wearing life jackets at the time.