A fair trade-off. On a river trip characterized by heavy currents and fast water, the safest thing you can do is to leave the anchor at home. It may not be quite as convenient to do without it, but as this group learned, having it may not be worth the risk. If you have to have an anchor, make sure that the anchor line can pay out until it leaves the boat. A water temperature of 45 degrees is so cold that, for many people, the shock of immersion is paralyzing.
Breathing can be difficult, and strength and coordination quickly disappear.
Without the PFD, your chances of survival decline significantly. Proper clothing might have increased the victim's chance of survival. While trading places in the boat, Jack tripped and fell, hitting his head and falling out of the boat. He was not wearing a life jacket. Immediately after falling in, he started swimming away from the boat toward the middle of the river.