[Paddlewise] Subject: Re: Two kayakers missing

ralph diaz said:

An interesting point on this thread is whether mags should be covering
such
accidents.  In the most recent issue of Atlantic Coastal Kayaker, there
is a
letter to the editor from someone who objects to seeing such stories and

Tamsin Venn, the editor, in response explains why it is important to
continue covering them.
<snip>
This wasn't true earlier when even the advise in leading sea kayaking
books
did not emphasize these; an example, Derek Hutchinson's famous statement
in
the earliest version of his books about not wanting to go paddling
smelling
like a stinky frogman--meaning the neoprene and his cavalier attitude
about
wearing a PFD even at symposiums.  Imagine the situation now if that
posture
and attitude had continued to prevail with the magazines, books, and
even
clubs.

ralph, et al:

I just finished an interview with the Comox coroner this evening,
regarding the kite sailor who died last spring in Georgia Strait. His
kayak was found, under sail, miles away. His body eventually washed up
on Vancouver Island. He was wearing inadequate immersion apparel, and
had no signs of any kind of distress signal ability. He was a fairly
experienced paddler, who used his kayak for inter-island commuting. The
interview went fine, though I must admit I do not enjoy doing this kind
of stuff. I can see why Matt gave it up for the most part, a few years
ago. The coroner described methods of estimating time of death, due to
things like what point sea lice start sucking your dead flesh, etc. I
should go to bed now, but my heart is hurting, so maybe I can share a
bit (?).

The coroner really wanted to make some recommendations to the paddling
community, but his boss didn't think it appropriate, nor did they feel
the info would be disseminated properly. The corner's office also has
been reticent with official details up until now. I have been bugging
them for 3/4's of a year. They finally realized that the best way was to
grant me an interview, and let the information be released via a
paddler/ writter through a publication with some widespread appeal.
Hopefully I can muster some decent content with SK, as they have not
covered a kite sail incident yet.

At the end of our session, I noticed a picture in the coroner's file,
beneath the thick pile of official reports (RCMP, SAR, CG
momment-by-momment search notes, etc.). It was a fly-by shot from high
up, of the area. As I inquired about looking at the picture (I could see
the edge), he pulled it out. Another sheet of 4 prints fell to the
floor. I picked it up. It was pic's of the dead body, on the beach, held
in various posses by the RCMP  for identification purposes. The dead
body was ghostly white, eyes partially open, and face somewhat bloodied
from coming in through the surge, over the rocks face down. I scanned
the photos, as he asked whether I really wanted to see them or not. I
said that at that point, I mind as well have a good look. As I looked at
the fourth photo, it was as if I was suddenly looking at my own death.
The guy looked just like me, balding, buzz cut with what hair he did
have, and a goatee. Only he was older, and white/ gray for hair. It was
uncanny. That could be me one day, I thought. The dead paddler's face
suddenly jumped out at me (well, it seemed like it did) -- bigger than
life, but not bigger than death.

The coroner could see my reaction (he is a trained post-stress syndrome
counselor, amongst his many talents), and a keen sports fisherman who
knows the dangers of our cold coastal waters and how fast squalls move
in around here. He said something philosophical about the sea and death,
but it was all background noise for a minute or two. I could feel a tear
coming on as I gazed at the picture. Not wanting to appear non-macho, I
made a comment about the fact that the dead paddler seemed to be smiling
when stiffness finally had set in, and at least he died doing what he
liked best. I then went into a spiel about extreme sports, and the fact
that this paddler in question shouldn't have been in waters like that.
And that it was a place for extreme paddlers only (up to 30 knot open
crossing). He replied dryly that every sport has its extreme members,
and probably sea kayaking was no different. He said he was well aware of
the extreme element in the echelons of any activity. He said that was
one of the reasons society has coroners.

I drove home quietly, then hugged my wife and two little girls. The dead
paddlers image is still fresh in my mind. I think it will stay there for
some time. There's nothing funny about death, though I suppose it can be
cheated for some time.

Doug Lloyd




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