In a message dated 3/27/04 4:54:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, sh_at_actglobal.net writes: Niels, A few years ago, we had a local outrigger canoe get into trouble approximately 100 yards from shore. The result was one fatality. The paddlers in the canoes typically carry PFD's but don't wear them. There was an offshore wind and the canoe got swamped. I don't remember a lot of the details, but you have to remember that our water temperatures are usually around the low 50's at the coldest. Things can and do happen close to shore. Steve Holtzman Southern CA Actually, I am fairly certain that two paddlers died in the incident Steve is describing. I'm a little hazy on the details, but as I recall there were 5 or 6 paddlers in a large outrigger canoe, and they took off that day in rough, windy conditions. The canoe capsized, and everyone stayed with the capsized canoe for a while. After some time, I believe two paddlers decided they would try to swim for shore, and as I recall it one swimmer was rescued, and other died and his body was found days later. The other fatality was among the group that stayed with the canoe, but he died of hypothermia. It was a very sad incident. I used to see this group heading out for a paddle on Sunday mornings, so it was quite a shock to hear about the accident. They normally paddled in swimsuits, cutoff shorts, T-shirts, no shirts, etc., so they were probably not equipped for cold water immersion on that day, although I don't remember the details of what they were actually wearing on the day of the accident. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Mar 27 2004 - 23:09:57 PST
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