“60 Minutes Sports” won its first Emmy last night for a heart wrenching story about Kayaking on the Potomac River. The main character of the story, Shannon Christy died while being videotaped for the story. CBS News’s David Martin accepted the Emmy and dedicated it to Christy.
23-year-old Christy, who hailed from South Carolina, was one of the most experienced Kayakers in the world. She was drawn to the “Great Falls” event in Virginia last summer, just as “60 Minutes” was planning to cover the sport.
Producers videotaped her first run on July 9. On a practice run two days later, Christy disappeared. Her accident was seen by a tourist who alerted others. Her empty orange kayak was picked up by “60 Minutes” cameras at the bottom of the falls.
Correspondent David Martin spoke to Christy at Great Falls two days before she died. “I kayak because I love the sport. Kayaking takes you to places that most of society will never see. I love the act of Kayaking for what it is.”