L'ANSE - A Houghton man is dead after a Friday kayaking accident that occurred on the Silver River in Baraga County.

Michigan Technological University civil and environmental engineering professor Richard Honrath Jr., 47, was pronounced dead at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. According to the Baraga County Sheriff's Department, deputies went to the Silver River in L'Anse Township, shortly after 8:20 p.m. to assist a kayaker who was reportedly "pinned against a tree." Upon arrival, deputies found Honrath pinned under a tree in fast-moving rapids. He was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital.

Honrath and his partner, Dave Bullock, 38, of downstate St. Johns had entered the Silver River about two miles upstream from where the incident took place. Bullock told police that Honrath had rolled and was separated from his kayak. He said he attempted a rescue with a throw rope, but failed.

Bullock told police he and Honrath had been kayaking together for about 15 years and were familiar with the Silver River.

Tim Schulz, dean of the college of engineering, said Honrath will be missed.

"This is a horrible human tragedy," he said in a written statement from the university. "Richard was clearly one of the top faculty members at Michigan Tech, an outstanding educator and a highly respected researcher. I've known Richard since 1992, when he and I came to Michigan Tech as assistant professors. He was a wonderful human being, a sincere person and one with utmost integrity."

Wayne Pennington, chair of geological and mining engineering and sciences at Tech, had similar thoughts.

"Richard Honrath was the faculty member most responsible for bringing atmospheric sciences at Michigan Tech to international prominence," he said in a written statement. "He and others in atmospheric sciences created a Ph.D. program here in that field. He supervised graduate students and post doctoral fellows. He established field stations in Greenland and the Azores. While we hope to fill the gaps created by our loss of Richard, we know we can never fill his shoes."

The L'Anse Fire Department, Bay Ambulance, Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police and the L'Anse and Baraga village police departments assisted with the incident.

Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@mininggazette.com.