RE: [Paddlewise] Missing kayaker found

The waders certainly could have contributed to his inability to
self-rescue, but they would provide essentially neutral buoyancy while
he was in the water.  If anything, they could have approximated the
effect of a very loose wet suit.  But they wouldn't have pulled him
under -- just made it difficult to get out of the water.

Hypothermia can occur in almost any water immersion situation.  Would
defer to Chuck Sutherland or someone else more knowledgeable, but a
person becomes hypothermic when core body temperature goes below 95
degrees F.  And since it starts only about three or four degrees above
that, there's not a long way to go.  Certainly, water in the 60 degree F
range could do it; unconsciousness can occur with a ten degree loss in
core temperature, but the disorientation and loss of SA happens much
before that.  A PFD and a suitable wet or dry suit would have made the
situation very different.

Joq

-----Original Message----
From: Chris Kuhlman

A fishing kayaker went missing about a week ago and his body has been
found 50 yds. from where he was reported struggling to get back in his
boat. Not only was he not wearing a pfd, he was wearing waders. Our
winter water temps are in the low 60's this week so he could probably
have had held on to his boat long enough for a rescuer to get to him
without hypothermia being a factor. I'd say the waders were his second
biggest mistake that cost him his life and now a family without a dad.
Here's the whole story as reported in a local paper.
<http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/03/04/bay_area_citizen/news/3kay
aker_body5.txt
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