
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 22, 1994                   TAG: 9408220115
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRAPPED CANOEIST IMPROVES

A Roanoke County woman who nearly drowned after being trapped underwater beneath a flipped canoe remained in serious condition Sunday, but is showing steady improvement, police said.

Sgt. Mick Reed of the Salem Police Department said it will be five to seven days before doctors will know if Katie Lynn Charlton will fully recover from the accident.

The 22-year-old woman was canoeing on the Roanoke River with her boyfriend Saturday afternoon when their boat collided with a large tree limb that had fallen into the water.

Charlton became trapped underwater when the canoe flipped and got tangled up in the branches.

Her boyfriend was able to run for help, but it took rescuers at least 10 minutes to get the woman out of the water.

Charlton wasn't breathing when rescuers reached her, police said, but emergency crews were able to revive her at the scene.

by CNB