The kayaker who died on a dangerous stretch of New Hampshire’s West Pemigewasset River has been identified as a Vermont man who worked as a reporter and for a river conservation group.
Police say the victim of Wednesday’s accident was 29-year-old Alan Panebaker of Montpelier. An experienced kayaker, he was with two others when his kayak overturned south of the Flume Gorge and he became trapped under water.
Heavy rains the previous night created dangerous conditions on many of the state’s rivers.
Until July, Panebaker worked for the news organization VTDigger.org, which described him as a bright and talented man with a keen sense of humor.
Gov. Peter Shumlin also expressed his condolences Thursday, saying Panebaker was a fair, thorough and informative reporter.