> Scott asked: > >>>>>>Have we ruled out that something > happened to him 'before' hitting the water?<<<<<<<< > > I don't think so, but if that theoretical cause was sudden and final like a > massive heart attack, stroke or sudden drowning syndrome he might never have > gotten the spraydeck off and might have been found still be in the kayak. Of > course, if he capsized during a heart attack he might have been able to pop > the spraydeck and bail as oxygen might still have been his first priority. > I gotta believe that a person who suffers a "sudden and final" attack could still end up out of the boat. But I don't presume that this is what happened. There are any number of reasons that a person can become disoriented and perhaps pass out, if only temporarily. You know, enough time to lose their boat. Did anybody see the episode of Survivor where the guy was leaning over the fire to stoke it and took in a lung full of smoke and passed out INTO the fire! Stuff happens. Did Mr. Gaeber have any history of medical problems? Was he on any medication? I had a fellow at work pass out in the middle of the day from a new blood pressure medication he was on. From the information presented to this group, which is all I have to go by, I think that the fellow actually seemed to be pretty well prepared and knew what he was doing. He was "described as an experienced and avid kayaker." Of course this can be a matter of interpretation, and I would like to know more about what his skill level actually involved. "He was wearing a neoprene farmer john, a PFD and a skirt." I've been swimming in water that was in the high forties with a lot less. I say it's doable. Of course, not for long swims. But then this comes back to just how skilled a paddler he actually was. I would not hesitate to do a similar trip with similar equipment. I can't see myself capsizing in the first place. If I did, I certainly would not come out of the boat. If I did, then I would never lose contact with my boat or paddle. Unless something unforeseen, like a medical condition, prevented me from doing what I do. You know, the kind of thing you could never really prepare for. I think this group is, as usual, a bit presumptuous in it's criticism of this paddler. Unless you know something I don't about this incident, I don't feel that there is enough information currently available to make such conclusions about the victims equipment. Like I said before, it sounds a bit strange to me that a reportedly "experienced" paddler fell out of his boat and then lost it before he could even recover the paddle float. I need more information. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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