Re: [Paddlewise] Michigan Kayaker dies from hypothermia

----- Original Message -----
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
> A short summary is this... 2 men a mile offshore in 2 foot waves.  One
> capsizes, apparently wet-exits though the paper makes it sound like a roll
at
> first.  Loses control of boat while trying to empty water.  Swimming after
it
> fails.  Partner tries to tow the swimmer through the water to nearby
safety
> and makes no progress.  Tries to get him up on his bow, and sees his eyes
> dialated.   Only now does the swimmer put on a life jacket, given to him
by
> the other paddler.  Other paddler abandons him and goes for help.  At this
> point, swimmer has been in the water 3 hours.  No mention of a VHS, or
> signaling devices of any type.  No mention of water temps.  Body found
next
> day.

I read the article and am not certain that he did not have a life jacket on
all the time.  It said that the guy left him with one on.

The big mistake was trying to troll his friend to shore, which it is
basically what he was doing having him pulled along in the water at the end
of line.  This was sure to jack up the cold water effect as the forward
motion would flush lots of cold water through his garments.  Also, in
effect, the fellow in the water was a sea anchor and that should have been
obvious.

He should have gotten him out of the water immediately as the Lakes do tend
to stay cold.  He could have had him spread eagle on the back of his boat.
If the victim on the back deck made the kayak feel extraordinarily tippy he
could have had the guy drop his legs into the water to lower the effective
center of gravity and act as sort of outriggers.

A one mile paddle back to shore would have taken an hour at most.

By the time he had dragged his friend into a high state of hypothermia it
was too late.  At that point the fellow would not have been in shape to hang
on to the bow.  If they had tried the bow hanging on approach (with guy in
water) from the very beginning (if being on the deck was too tippy) the
paddling would have been quick and the exposure, in terms of time in the
water, limited.

ralph diaz

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