[Paddlewise] tradegy in Alaska

After talking with a former employee of Ken's I now have a clearer picture of
what happened. 


Ken and a student/ friend when out to pratice rolls. As I said in an earlier
post, the area they were rolling in has a large tidal flat with scatted rocks.
Power boats have hit rocks here because the flat extends out almost to the
dock at New Thompson Harbor. 


    Ken rolled a couple times o.k. then rolled and stayed down for a short
time then wet existed the boat. He had a bloody gash on his temple. He told
the student he was o.k. and reentered the boat and began to paddle to shore.
He then appeared to pass out and roll over. His friend got to him, Ken had
appearently regained conscousness by this time. She tried to tow him in but he
passed out again. Someone in a dingy (row boat) saw the situation and rowed
over got Ken in the dingy and began to administer CPR, but to no avail. 


    EMT's arrived but could not revive him. 


    I do not know if the cold water tempertures (46 degrees) contributed to
the accident.


    Ken's appearent mistake was not checking the depth of the water before
each roll. With the wind (15mph) and the tide flow the boat was moving
somewhat and  each roll would have been in a different place. Also a helmit
would have saved his life, however I will be the first to admit that I rarely
wear a helmit when practicing rolls. In my white water days I always wore a
helmit but now in a seakayak, except when I know I am going to be surfing, I
don't wear one. Though I have a feeling next time I practice rolls I will wear
one.


    All and all it was a freak accident. Had he been a couple of feet to one
side or the other he might not have hit his head. Also the temple is one of
the worst places to get hit.


    Having watched a friend die in a whitewater accident a number of years ago
I know how his student must feel. Even knowing there was nothing she could
have done guilt can become  a part of the grieving and takes a long time to
work through.


    Alas we cannot change the past but we can be wiser for the future. Check
the depth before you roll and wear a good helmit.


Bob


Alaska





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