BY JOSEPH B. NADEAU

CUMBERLAND — A 17-year-old boy died in a Blackstone River accident yesterday afternoon while canoeing with his father in the swiftly moving waters running through Pratt Dam.

The canoe is believed to have struck a small log jam at the opening of  several large flow tubes carrying the river’s waters under the old railroad crossing structure and overturned.
The teen went into the second closest flow tube to the shore and became trapped inside, possibly due to snagging on debris inside or gear from the canoe, according to fire officials.
The father went to the third tube from the shore and exited downstream where he was able to make it to the riverbank. Firefighters reported the pair had lifejackets but could not say how they factored into the accident Sunday evening.
The police department reported receiving a 911 call at 12:21 p.m. stating a male subject was trapped in the water on the river.
Police, Fire and Rescue personnel from Cumberland and surrounding communities responded,  located the father and learned the teen was still under the old railroad trestle now used to carry the Blackstone River Bikeway from the Lincoln side of the River to its Cumberland route behind the Stop & Shop Plaza off Mendon Road.
The bridge crosses a man-made narrowing of the river that speeds its flow through the tube channels and makes it dangerous.
The pair had put in at Albion, according to officials, and ran down river toward the Valley Falls section on what was a perfect, sunny fall day.
Valley Falls Fire Chief Brian Jackvony said the canoeists apparently entered the swift moving section of river and ran against the trees and wood debris partially blocking the tube openings.
 Recent rains may have raised the level of the river in the area but the narrowing also generates turbulence, he said.
 “We attempted to bring a boat up the river but couldn’t get to the boy because of the force of the river,” Jackvony said.
  After the attempts to get to the submerged youth failed, Jackvony said rescue crews determined the safest recovery option would to close off the upstream opening the tube allowing rescue divers to work their way up from downstream.
 A crane had to be summoned to the location to lower the plate into place and the boy was finally removed around 4 p.m., he said. The victim was taken to the state Medical Examiners Office after being pronounced dead at the scene.
 The father was transported to Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket for observation, he said.
 While the boy’s removal from the tube took several hours, Jackvony said firefighters had to use caution in retrieving him to avoid injury to others.
 “Once we determine it is a recovery, we need to proceed slowly and methodically in a safe manner so that we don’t get anyone else injured,” he said.
 Assisting the Valley Falls Fire Department at the scene were Cumberland Hill Units including that department’s No.4 inflatable boat. Rescue personnel from surrounding communities also went to the location to assist in the recovery effort, police and fire officials said.
 Cumberland Police Lt. Joseph Louro said the accident remained under investigation Sunday and more information would be available from the department on Monday. The names of those involved were being withheld Sunday night while family members were being contacted, he said.