A Fatal Rafting Accident on the Segultan River sparks an official inquiry
A 28-year-old man died after his raft capsized and he was swept away by a strong upstream current during a May 6 rafting trip on the Segultan River. The watercourse begins in the northern Sverdlovsk region and is noted for its rapid flows. Officials say that the boat carrying the victim overturned once at the start of the excursion. The man managed to regain his position in the raft, and his companions chose to continue with the planned journey. Nevertheless, the raft overturned a second time, the survivor was separated from the craft, and he disappeared into the river’s powerful current. This sequence of events has prompted a formal investigation to determine what happened and why. [Source: Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee]
Following the disappearance, a friend of the missing person initially tried to locate him without outside assistance. Only after some time did professional rescue teams and authorities become involved in the search. The incident led to an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The investigative department based in Severouralsk, operating under the Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee, assumed control of the case. In a press statement, Alexander Shulga, the senior deputy chairman of the Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee, confirmed that investigators inspected the scene and prepared the body for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The autopsy results were expected to shed light on how the sequence of events unfolded and whether any safety violations or other contributing factors played a role in the outcome. [Source: Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee]
The incident adds to a recent pattern of rafting-related disappearances in the Urals, where a group of eight tourists vanished while navigating rapids. Authorities have emphasized the critical importance of following safety protocols, properly fitting life jackets, monitoring weather and water conditions, and ensuring that participants in river expeditions possess adequate training and supervision. The broader examination of safety practices continues as rescue services and investigative teams review protocols and readiness to respond to incidents on regional waterways. In parallel, the Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee and local rescue services are coordinating closely as the investigation proceeds and as additional details become suitable for public disclosure. [Source: Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee]