PaddleWise by thread

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] rescuers die
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 17:22:05 -0400
This is a whitewater incident that shows the risks often run by rescuers in
attempting to save a kayakers who really accidently run into an unforeseen
problem or who may be operating beyond their skill level.  Score: kayaker
and two rescuers dead.

http://www.kdka.com/now/story/0,1597,284638-403,00.shtml

ralph diaz
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Kevin Whilden <kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] rescuers die
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 15:31:59 -0700
Ralph,
Here's the link to the Boatertalk thread where this accident is discussed.
http://www.boatertalk.com/index.php?forumid=BoaterTalk&mid=19865
Apparently, the firefighters were killed retrieving the body of the already
dead kayaker. Not that it makes much difference, but I hope that this
unfortunate tragedy is not another sad example of professional rescue
personel that have no training in swiftwater rescue and get killed because
of it. From what I've read, it doesn't seem like they knew what they were
doing.

As far as the kayaker is concerned, the strainer that got him was hard to
see according to one account in the BT thread. The river itself was class
II, which is very easy comparatively, and less threatening physically. But a
river is wild place, where accidents can happen unexpectedly.

Kevin



----- Original Message -----
From: "ralph diaz" <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 2:22 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] rescuers die


> This is a whitewater incident that shows the risks often run by rescuers
in
> attempting to save a kayakers who really accidently run into an unforeseen
> problem or who may be operating beyond their skill level.  Score: kayaker
> and two rescuers dead.
>
> http://www.kdka.com/now/story/0,1597,284638-403,00.shtml
>
> ralph diaz
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
> PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
> Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
> "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
***************************************************************************
> 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/
>
***************************************************************************
>

***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] rescuers die
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 18:07:34 -0400
At 03:31 PM 4/9/01 -0700, Kevin Whilden wrote:
>Ralph,
>Here's the link to the Boatertalk thread where this accident is discussed.
>http://www.boatertalk.com/index.php?forumid=BoaterTalkmid=19865
>Apparently, the firefighters were killed retrieving the body of the already
>dead kayaker. 


Last weekend on Cayuga lake a couple of college students borrowed a canoe
and took it out on the lake.  The weather on Sunday was the nicest it has been
all year.  They were 400 feet offshore when they capsized into the 38 degree
water.  They were not dressed for immersion.  There were two PFD's on board
and one of them was wearing one.  The other was a child PFD and didn't fit
so it wasn't worn.   Same old story, right.

Luckily for the two first time canoeist, someone on shore saw them capsize
and immediately went for some oars and, with a neighbor, rowed out into
the lake (apparently the wind was pretty high).  Neither of the swimmers were
in contact with the canoe and it looked like both had swallowed quite a bit
of water.  They managed to drag them into the row boat and get back to 
shore.  Hypothermia had already started to have an effect and the twice
swimmers
were unable to stand after landing.  After a hot shower, and the rescuers gave
them warm clothes and drove them home.  Apparently, there victims had friends
with them (also beginners) in another rented canoe but the wind and waves were
so bad they were unable to reach the capsized canoists.

I hope they learned a lesson.


***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:21 PDT