[Paddlewise] 3- Dead Kayakers

A year ago, a kayaker went over a low dam on the Clinton River north of 
Detroit and was drowned in the back wash of the "hydraulic" below the dam.

Over the last week that accident was replicated, and two other kayakers were 
killed on the Clinton River.

There have been a lot of storms lately; and although southeast Michigan 
appears to have been bulldozed completely flat by the glaciers of the last 
ice age, there a number of active rivers and creeks.  The Clinton was running 
high, fast and muddy.

The first 2000 fatality was "an experienced kayaker."  He and his paddling 
partner were headed to a bar (a drinking establishment, not a sandbar) via 
the river when he flipped his boat.  No spray skirt or PFD, and he drowned.

The second drowning was quite similar to the over-the-dam and trapped 
accident of exactly one year ago.  Again, no PFD.  The kayak was trapped on 
end (bow or stern vertically down) until hoisted out of the backwash at the 
base of the dam by a fire crew with a ladder truck.  The drowned kayaker, was 
spit out of the "hydraulic" and found downstream.  His body showed signs of 
impact with underwater objects, and he had no helmet.

The third drowning happened to a woman, who was wearing a PFD, but got 
trapped under an underwater obstruction.

I don't know if white water type rescue techniques could have mitigated these 
accidents, but  it appears that some "kayak experience" is just waiting for 
that one telling problem.

bob phillips
Oxford, MI
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************