Thanks for the url to the story. The water was running about 2000 at the time of the accident and if he had gone into it straight there probably wouldn't have been a problem. Judging from where the boat was stopped after overturning indicated that they were right in the center of the river. The water depth was about 8 to 12 feet deep right next to the cement and tapered off quickly. The peoblem of course was the suction keeps pulling you closer to the cement and you are unable to get away. If he had been 10 or feet below the cement he likely would have been able to reach shore as it gets shallow very quickly.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends I know how it feels to loose someone with no reasoning. I wish that I would have been closer or would have known that this was happening possibly the outcome would have been different.