Re: [Paddlewise] tradegy in Alaska

Thanks Bob for posting the details. This is indeed very tragic, and my heart
goes out to everyone involved and who knew Ken.

Not being present at the accident, it is impossible to know whether Ken had
tucked as he flipped over. I'm not trying to second guess, but the take-home
lesson for anyone following this, is to always tuck forward whenever you
flip over.  This is something that I teach to anyone who is learning to
roll, regardless of their intentions to paddle whitewater or ocean.  "Kiss
the cockpit coaming," is the proper mental vision.  This reflex needs to be
instilled right from the start of a paddler's career, regardless of whether
they ever successfully master the eskimo roll. A tucked paddler draws
surprisingly little water.

Obviously, this tucking reflex is much more important in whitewater, but
kayak surfers need it too, and sadly, even the most conservative sea
kayakers could eventually need this reflex.

Kevin Whilden




----- Original Message -----
From: "Rev. Bob Carter" <revkayak_at_mtaonline.net>
To: "paddlewise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2001 10:09 PM
Subject: [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/
>
***************************************************************************
>

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