LINCOLN – Police identified the man killed in Wednesday's kayaking accident on the Pemigewasset River just south of the Flume Gorge as Alan Panebaker, 29, of Montpelier, Vt.

Panebaker was described by police as an experienced, well-equipped kayaker. He was kayaking in a rocky area of the river with two companions from central New Hampshire just before 10 a.m. when his kayak got caught in some rocks, said Lincoln Police Sgt. Joseph DeLuca.

Police and fire-rescue crews arrived at the river at 10:40 a.m. after receiving a 911 call telling of a man lost in the river. The victim was missing when they arrived, but his body floated to the top of the river and was recovered at 12:30 p.m., DeLuca said.

“The last time he was seen was by one of his companions, who saw him upright in his canoe, and then the canoe turned over,” he said.

The victim became trapped under water for at least an hour before his body surfaced. Rescue crews tried to revive him at the edge of the river, but it was too late, DeLuca said.

The river was very high because of the heavy rains Tuesday night, making the river more dangerous, DeLuca said. Panebaker had apparently come to the section of river looking for the high rapids, he said.

“These guys weren't amateurs, they had wet suits and all the equipment used by experienced kayakers,” he said. “It's fairly unusual for kayakers to be up this high on the river because it's so dangerous, usually they stay to the south in Plymouth and Campton, but these men apparently came here for the rapids.”

The river is particularly dangerous in the section below the flume because of overhanging rocks that can trap a person, he said.

“But there are also deep whirlpools there that can pull a man down,” DeLuca said. “Whatever the case, it's clear that the current had taken him and held him.”

His two companions were not injured, but were shocked by the death, DeLuca said.

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Dan Seufert may be reached at dseufert@newstote.com.