Former VTDigger journalist dies in kayak accident

by Sarah Harris
September 21st, 2012

Alan Panebaker. Photo: @alanpanebaker Twitter profile

I was deeply saddened to hear about Alan Panebaker’s tragic death in a kayak accident in New Hampshire on Wednesday. Alan was VT Digger’s first full-time reporter. He graduated from Vermont Law School in 2011 and reported on the Vermont Statehouse. He was 29 years old.

I met Alan this past spring when I was on a freelance assignment in southern Vermont. He was friendly and collegial, I knew his work. I remember thinking that Alan was type of journalist I hoped to be. In July Alan left VT Digger to work for American Whitewater, a non-profit that works to “conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources.”

You can read tributes to Alan’s life and work at VTDigger and 7 Days.

 

Tags: media, outdoor recreation, vermont

2 Responses to “Former VTDigger journalist dies in kayak accident”

1. zeke says:

   September 22, 2012 at 8:24 am

   This is tragic. I also have to say that I have always felt white water kayaking has always seemed to me to be very very dangerous.

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2. mervel says:

   September 24, 2012 at 9:29 pm

   I am sorry for his family and hope people remember him. I am happy he wad given the grace to die doing something he loved.

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