Re: [Paddlewise] fatal Kayaking mishap in the Florida Panhandle.

From: Fred T, CA Kayaker <cakayak_at_mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 07:54:33 -0800
At 12/28/2000 11:18 AM -0500, John Allaman wrote:
>  This time they used a top-of-the-line two-man seagoing
>kayak and took along cellular phones, Global Positioning System receivers, a
>waterproof marine radio and laminated maps to ensure that they didn't fail.

A number of years ago two US Army Rangers in training died from hypothermia 
in the same general area during a portion of their final exams.  The 
Rangers would leave Georgia and make their way to the Gulf of 
Mexico.  These men. I believe, would be in far better shape and more adapt 
at surviving extreme weather conditions than the two unfortunate men in 
this case.  Yet, hypothermia can and does take down the best of them.  The 
two men that John let us know about, the two Army Rangers or climbers and 
many others around the world fall victim to hypothermia.  One doesn't often 
associate Florida with hypothermia, but all it takes is being wet on a 50 
degree night and you have the formula for disaster.  Rather one is wet from 
rain, perspiration or a capsize - you are still wet.

Without dressing for the water temperature and/or exposure their PFD's 
didn't do much other than give the search party an easier job of body 
recovery.  In the eyes of the uninformed they were prepared,  experience 
and knowledge says different.  What kind of grade do we get when our's and 
others lifes are at risk from hypothermia, drowning, etc.  It doesn't 
always have to be giant seas and storms to cost a life.

Fred T.
California Kayak


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Received on Mon Jan 01 2001 - 07:57:36 PST

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