If there is interest I'll do a full translation next week - off on a recce for this summers paddle adventure, Tord *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Tord, that would be wonderful! I am now presuming that the guys were not actually well dressed for the water (which is obvious, because both were hypothermic when reaching the closest islet). Please, check specially the Aftonbladet (Swedish evening paper) interview! The other issue is that the Multisport people are probably using kayaks without waterproof compartments, so they were actually not very 'extra sea-safe' as the Multisport press file claims. The lake is biggest (or was it second biggest?) in Sweden, so the swells can be big, if the wind direction is right. Maybe the Multisport is afraid of bad publicity so they are actually a bit sweetening things for the press. The guys made some bad decisions. The club is part of the outdoor testosterone & adventure industry, according to my opinion. Sponsored by outdoor manufacturers, with a lot of press covering. I did contact the writer of Aftonbladet and the Karlstad Multisport by e-mail. I think we need more details about the clothing, kayaks, direction of wind and the temperatures. Unfortunately, no answers yet. I am sceptical, maybe cynical, but it was a tragedy nevertheless Ari ----- On 24. maalis 2007, at 08:10, Tord Eriksson wrote: > If there is interest > I'll do a full translation next week - > off on a recce for this summers > paddle adventure, > > Tord *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Dear Tord and others, I did check the statistics of water temps: on March 19th the water temperatures were around +3 Centigrades (surface, close the coastline, 38 F), according the Meteorologic and Hydrologic Institute of Sweden. It is no wonder that swimming the one kilometre (1093 yards) took 45 to 50 minutes. I could not find any data about the air temps, but during yesterday the maximum in Karlstad was +6 Centigrades (daytime, 42,8 F) - +2 Centigrades (night, 35,6 F). And these guys were in *extremely* good condition. Mr. Rappe was competing in World Championship Multisport games... I believe there are lessons to be learned. Ari Fin-land *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Dear paddlewisers, it's at tragic incident for a WM paddler that reminds me of the death of an canadian olympic paddler in Hamburg, Germany. This is my unauthorized translation from Swedish. I paddle the same waters and there are informations here that are difficult to understand when it comes to type of kayak and rescue precautions (battery condition). I have no knowledge about the incident apart from what I have been able to read in URL's. The accident took place on the Vdnern, one of Sweden's largest lakes. Source "Multisport.se", tisdag 20 mars 2007 Experienced paddlers On friday 16 march Jonas planned to paddle a distancetrip from Fiskvik on Hammav via Arnv to Jdverv together with a 28 year old clubpal. Jonas and his pal were as "multisportlers" very used to paddle in the archipelago under all weather conditions. For this tip Jonas and his pal chose special sea safe kayaks and they were both wearing wetsuits on the underbody (ankle to navel) and whitewater pfd's with extra buoyancy. Record of the incident The trip started at 13:00 at Fiskvik more exact at Rdggerdsviken with Sdttersholmarna and Arnvns southwest point as target. Both paddlers enjoyed the trip with sunshine, mild wind and long pleasant swells for surfing. About 14:30 a wave suddenly capsizes Jonas kayak. Jonas acts properly and turns the kayak rather fast. He stays calm in the water until the first chock has settled and together with the pal that holds on to the kayak he tries to get up but a new wave capsizes the kayak and it becomes filled with water. The pal tells Jonas to take a waterproof sack from his kayak for extra buoyancy and dragging Jonas after he kayak they continues towards Arnvn. Jonas kayak sinks. About 14:40 is Jonas so much cooled down that he is unable to maintain his grasp to the kayak so the pal asks him to carefully ease himself up on top of the rear of his kayak. About 14:45 One km left for Arnvn when Jonas conditions deteriorate further and he slides of the pals kayak which courses this to capsize. Both paddlers are now in the water and together they swim towards land with the pals kayak for buoyancy. About 15:00 with about 500 meters left the pal has to help Jonas to stay with the kayak by attaching/tying his hands to the coaming. About 15:25 they reach a bank at the southwest end of Arnvn that's separated from Arnvn with 100 - 150 meters of water. The pal has to struggle to get Jonas up on the dry. He places the kayak so that it is easily seen from water and air. Jonas does not react when spoken to but reacts on pain. 15:26:41 emergency alert over telephone but the call is disconnected after a few seconds because of lack of battery power. The pal just succeeds in delivering part of the position information. The pal takes a quick feel on Jonas and runs around the island for 2 minutes to gain warmth. As he gets back to Jonas he uses his lips to sense the body temperature on the forehead, the stomach and the wrists. He feels the pulse, the strong pulse, the hands weak pulse the feet very week pulse. The pal has to take a decision based upon his assessment of the situation. He knows that Jonas is almost unconscious, he himself is heavily cooled down and has reduces motorical ability and he is not sure what the emergency service has heard about the position. The pal positions Jonas securely and tells him what he is about to do without any reaction from Jonas. He swims the 150 meters to Arnvn and then creeping and jumping follows the western edge. After about 2,5 km he reaches a cabin where he contacts emergency service to update the alarm. The firedepartment reaches Jonas on the bank with a little boat at the same time as his pal comes running back after his second alarm. The firefigters brings Jonas til Tyndsudden and the ambulance that is waiting Jonas Rappe was declared dead at the hospital 4 o'clock in the morning. Information from other sources: Drifting ice on the lake was a problem for search at sea The distance the pal (BR) had to run was 5 - 6 km, The firedepartments vehicle first headed for the wrong spot and got stuck in mud, then was redirected after the second call Police had called for a helicopter. The two pals were training 5 - 15 times a week. They were wearing gore-tex like jackets Regards Jens Viggo Moesmand Denmark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Dear Tord, Jens and all, here is a link to a local news site, which has some interesting images. As you can see, there was some floating ice. http://www.nwt.se/ArticlePages/200703/17/20070317085002_NWT409/ 20070317085002_NWT409.dbp.asp I will gather my little investigations into a small report... I did find out some statistics about wind and weather temps... No extra information from the club. I would like to know more about the kayaks and their training. The 5 to 15 training times of per week, which were mentioned in the interviews, do not tell anything about safety issues or their capability into risk evaluation. Ari ------ On 26. maalis 2007, at 17:57, Jens Viggo Moesmand wrote: > Dear paddlewisers, it's at tragic incident for a WM paddler that > reminds me of the death of an canadian olympic paddler in Hamburg, > Germany. > > This is my unauthorized translation from Swedish. I paddle the same > waters and there are informations here that are difficult to > understand when it comes to type of kayak and rescue precautions > (battery condition). *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Dear Tord, Ari and all, I could not make the link to the nwt.se pictures work but there was a few more bits for the puzzle in a later article on 2007.03.19. From this it seems to be so that the kayak was not a sea kayak but a whitewater, touring or racing kayak without decklines and bulkheads. It was equipped with a 40 liters bag for floatation. A bag that easily could be removed. Quote: "... he puts the (floatation) bag under the belly for buoyancy and grasps the pals kayak with both hands. But there is nothing to hold on to. He draws himself up on the rear, tumbles off and hangs on to the side. ... Then the pals kayak capsizes and they are both in the water. (and then, quote, the pal:)"I am not going to take the risk to get up again"(quote end) Being "sportlers" and whitewater paddlers they seem to have another understanding of safety and risk than "sea kayakers". These highly skilled sportlers can do a lot more in a kayak than me being 60+ but was the assessment of personal and environmental limitations realistic? Were they dressed for hard work in a kayak and not for survival in a cold lake? Did they have any protection for the hands, e.g. gloves? The telephone call for assistance was done after they got to shore i.e. one hour after the first capsize. Would it have been possible to use it earlier, or did they just find that it wasn't necessary? In this case deck lines and bulkheads might have made a difference and a paddler in a kayak can bring a victim much faster to shore than a swimmer so it's worthwhile to use the combined efforts of 2 swimmers to bring one of them aboard a kayak. But was that not possible because the resquee could not hold on to the rescuer (as reported) and no cowtails or ropes were available? I recall clearly being the victim in a very similar incident in the beginning of my kayaking career and how I used the deck lines to get my rescuer upright as he capsized twice in very cold broaching waves while he was struggling to drag me ashore. It's a very sad story and especially since they both technically were very capable but I wonder whether there is any new lesson to be learned. I look forward to see your report Ari. Kind regards Jens Viggo >Dear Tord, Jens and all, >here is a link to a local news site, which has some interesting images. >As you can see, there was some floating ice. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hello everyone, some questions do remain, but here is my 'report'. I am hoping that this helps everyone who is involved with kayaking in cold waters and kayaking instructors. Please, for a more detailed description, check the translation which Jens made from the press files. The paddlers launched on Friday, March 16th, around 13:00 from a safe harbour close the city of Karlstad. The air temperature for that afternoon was 440F / 70C (max) and the average wind speed in the afternoon was only 12 mph/19 km/h (5m/sec). Maximum speed was 20 mph/32 km/h (8,8 m/sec) and in occasional gusts 30 mph/48 km/h (13 m/sec) so we can assume that both felt safe and they were prepared for a warm and cosy paddling. Visibility was good, the articles and press file do describe a day with 'bright sunshine'. They were heading towards northeast, aiming to the most southwest peak of the island of Arno. The estimated distance from map is 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) so I believe they were planning to have a nice day trip and then return back in the late evening. Karlstad lies in the northern part of the lake Vanern. The former island of Hammaro covers it and the harbour from the southern winds. Because Vanern is the largest lake in Sweden and third largest in Europe, the southern or SW winds offer terrific possibilities for surfing in the swells. The wind had been changing it's direction since morning from SW slightly towards west, but it was quite steady and they enjoyed surfing in following wind. It seems certain that they felt safe, because they passed several islands and islets from the south. Rappe was 36 and his friend is 28, according the club's press file. Both paddlers did training 5 to 15 times per week, though the later statement does not reveal exactly, what kind of training they do. We have to assume that they were in perfect physical condition. Multisport races are challenging and can last several days without a break. After they have left the lee of Hammaro at 14:30 a 'sudden' wave hits Rappe's kayak and he capsizes, after only 5 minutes of surfing. They are not worried, because they are 'used to getting wet', and after turning his kayak upwards they try to get Rappe back into it. An other sudden wave, and his kayak sinks. I am not sure but maybe they were close a shoal. They start to use Rappe's 40-litre waterproof bag as a flotation device. His friend starts to drag Rappe in the water, and because there are no deck lines ('nothing to hold' in the interview) Rappe hugs the stern by his hands. Ten minutes after his capsize he is unable to hold, so he climbs to the rear deck of his friend's kayak. About 15 minutes after the capsize Rappe starts to slide and his body weight turns the other kayak upside down. According an interview his friend does not want to take any risks with the kayak so he starts to swim with Rappe and kayak towards the shoreline. After 25 minutes in water (at about 15:00) Rappe is unable to hold the kayak and his friend ties or binds his hands 'next to the cockpit'. He is unconscious when they reach an islet next to the Arno. Rappe has been about 55 minutes in water. The cell phone dies in middle of an emergency call. After his friend has warmed up running in circles for 2 minutes, he checks Rappe's pulse and body temperature. Because the situation is so alarming, he decides to swim the remaining 164 yards/150 metres to Arno and finally finds a cottage with people and telephone, after running again about 1.55 miles/2,5 kilometres. Because the local emergency centre did not get the full information the SAR staff and local police forces looked from a wrong place, using a ferry and a helicopter. When they did get the correct details, about 2 hours had passed since Rappe's first capsize. The water temperature was three days later, on March 19th, 380F (surface, close the coastline, +30C), according the Meteorologic and Hydrologic Institute of Sweden. Swimming one kilometre (1093 yards) took 50 minutes and Rappe fell unconscious within that time. All details fit perfectly the statistics, which claim that in 32.50F to 400F (about 0 to <50C) it takes 1530 minutes to exhaustion and expected survival time is 3090 minutes. The wind factor is also important: 20 mph/32 km/h or 8,8 m/sec feels on skin like 32.50F/-60C, sunshine or not. It is not a wonder that Rappe could not hang from the stern and started sliding from the deck. The club's very detailed (3 A4-sized sheets) press file on March 17th brings up some serious questions. The Karlstad Multisport chose to have a very open policy about this accident, but they claim that both were experienced kayakers, in 'all weather conditions, all year around'. That they had a specially 'sea-safe' kayaks and clothing specially designed for kayaking, including 'extra floatable' pfd's. Then, really, how did this all happen? The club personnel has not answered my polite e-mails, so I will have to speculate a bit. Maybe they do need some time for recovering. Maybe the issue is also very difficult; the club has very many sponsors which help them to arrange 'oldest and most legendary Adventure Race in Sweden'. The 10th anniversary is close. According an interview the clothing seems to have covered only the lower body, from 'feet to navel'. Beneath that they seem to have had a layer of sports underwear and on top a paddling jacket. The image of Rappe's friend walking to an ambulance after the rescue, which I found, shows a very thin jacket and neoprene trousers with small booties. There is no evidence of gloves or a cap or a helmet of any sort, not in the image (it does not show his hands or head) or in the interviews. They were prepared for a sunny and nice surfing weather and wanted to avoid overheating. Also, there is not a slightest evidence about any cold water training, though in the interview Rappe's friend states that they were not 'daredevils' and they trained a lot every week. Considering the water temperature, clearly, they were not doing any risk evaluation. The ice was still there, floating close the shores. I have not found any evidence about them being skilled whitewater paddlers, either, though Jens Rappe did participate several Multisport races and marathons since 1999. The kayaks remain as the big question. It seems that they were actually not very 'sea-safe', because the first sank, and they did not dare to straighten the other one. Lack of deck lines makes me to do the same conclusion as Jens: they were probably having plastic whitewater kayaks. No bulkheads, very little flotation, if any. Copy-pasting images and other files with one's laptop can be a rather amazing tool. I did find from my files this evening a photograph of Rappe, and accidentally, beneath it, was a hypothermia survival table. Maybe there is not a 'new' lesson. The wind and weather data is from the local Karlstad airport. Ari Fin-land > > It's a very sad story and especially since they both technically were > very capable but I wonder whether there is any new lesson to be > learned. > > I look forward to see your report Ari. > > Kind regards > > Jens Viggo *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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