The bodies of Jesse Scaffidi, 23, and Daniel Chidester, 23, were recovered Monday from the Virgin River, according to the National Park Service.

The raft was made of logs, said park spokesman Ron Terry, and the two men put it into the river without seeking a permit from park rangers. The men were trying to navigate the river through the stretch known as The Narrows.

Terry said the Virgin River was flowing at least 200 cubic feet per second through The Narrows -- fast enough that someone could not stand up in the water. The water was extremely cold. Neither man wore a flotation device, Terry said.

The men were reported overdue on Sunday morning after they failed to check in with family members on Saturday. Searchers began combing the area for the men on Sunday and continued looking on Monday.

The first body was located in the north fork of the Virgin River, near the gateway to The Narrows, at about 9 a.m., according to a news release from the National Park Service. A few hours later, the second body was discovered near the Big Bend shuttle stop, about two miles downstream.

Terry said anyone wanting a permit to travel that stretch of the Virgin River must be aboard a craft capable of navigating white water, such as a kayak. All watercraft used in the park requires a backcountry permit and most river trips through the The Narrows should only be attempted by expert paddlers, Terry said.

The men will undergo an autopsy to confirm their cause of death."

The best part of this story wasn't on the news, but comes from the backpacker.com forums

http://www.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=852107219;t=9991136319

Evidently these two "were trying to get video and photos to enter a contest, to be chosen to appear in an episode of Man Vs Wild. There is a link on the show's website inviting people to submit footage of themselves "on an adventure" to win one of four spots."

Submitted on 04/27/2010

Submitted by: Matt Slater
Reference: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14969478

Copyright © 2010 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Okay, stupid drowning is pretty common, but...a makeshift raft, a stretch of river known to be dangerous, no permit (so no one knows where they are), and no flotation devices whatsoever? This is just asking for it! Talk about breaking EVERY rule of good sense. Thanks, Matt, and submit again! And for the curious, here's a link with a photo of the site in question on a GOOD day: http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-narrows.htm

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Testing out an unproven homemade raft without wearing safety gear like life vests and wetsuits (since the water was extremely cold) and in an area where permits are required and only experts should attempt it all adds up to a case of exceptional stupidity as far as I'm concerned. Thanks, Matt!

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