Marsha Smith

When Margie Farmer of Bodfish and her boyfriend Art Wyrick purchased “River Rat” tubes from Kern River Valley Novelty in Kernville, she didn’t know the warrantee included free life-saving in the deal. Farmer can kid about it now, but on a recent tubing trip down the upper Kern River, it was the president of Kern River Valley Novelty, Lucian Whitman, who rescued and pulled her to safety from the fast currents of the river.

Farmer and Wyrick, along with Farmer’s oldest son, Jesse, and two of Jesse’s friends entered the river at Power House 3 above Kernville to follow the “Lickety Split” rafting route down river to the take-out at the bridge in Kernville. All had their own tubes and all wore life vests. When the group hit the “Big Daddy” rapids, just about at the halfway point, Margie maneuvered her tube to shore and walked around the rapids while the rest took the ride.

Margie Farmer, left, is thankful to be alive and grateful for the heroic efforts of Lucian Whitman, right, president of Kern River Valley Novelty in Kernville. Without a life jacket she would have been a goner.

Back in the water all was fine until they entered the “Little Ewing” rapids (last rapid before the park take-out) and both Margie’s and Jesse’s tubes flipped over. Jesse was able to right his and down the river to the take-out he went. Margie, however, got caught in a strong current and was unable to get back on her tube, although she was able to hang onto it.

At this point the trip started heading south. In the deep fast current, Farmer, who is no novice to river trips, said “I committed the absolute ‘No-No’,” by putting her feet down, trying to touch bottom. The right heel of her shoe became snagged in tree branches. Even with the life vest the current might have forced her under had she not been holding so tightly to the tube. She desperately tried to free her foot, but the shoe was wedged good and tight and double knotted, so she couldn’t even wiggle out of the shoe. Farmer said, “What I should have done is get into the California lounge chair position, face forward, butt down, legs up so you wont get snagged and go with the current until someone can get you out.”

Wyrick tried repeatedly to reach her but the current kept sweeping him by just short of his target. Others tried as well with the same result. Margie realized the situation was getting serious when she saw the desperation in Wyrick's eyes and felt her grip on the tube reaching fatigue.

Then out of the blue something jerked her leg and foot, and when she rose in the river she saw a yellow life jacket come up with her. Inside that life jacket was Lucian Whitman. Whitman got her to shore and Farmer gave him a huge hug! When Wyrick reached them she hugged him and when she turned back Whitman was gone. Later she learned who Whitman was and the following day she went to his store to thank him for saving her life, and kid him about the unspoken warrantee.

The Monday evening rescue took place after most businesses near the river in Kernville were already closed and those seeking help ended up in Whitman’s place of business coincidently, only because he was the only one open at the time. Upon hearing the scenario he grabbed a life jacket and ran to the scene. Whitman who is an avid kayaker and knows the river pretty well said, “I knew I only had one chance to get her free.” He dove in where he was confident the current would take him to her and jerked her leg free and up they came. He said he was concerned he might break her leg in the process, but he had to get her free regardless.

This story luckily had a happy ending, but Farmer and Whitman wanted to stress the importance of river safety. Do not under any circumstances enter the river without a life jacket (or the lake either). Life vests are available in many stores in the valley, especially in Kernville.

Don’t take a chance and become a statistic. Farmer said to remember, if you get in trouble, face forward, butt down and legs up.