Re: [Paddlewise] Missing kayaker found

On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 7:11 PM, Martin, Jack <martin.jack_at_solute.us> wrote:

> The waders certainly could have contributed to his inability to
> self-rescue......... But they wouldn't have pulled him
> under -- just made it difficult to get out of the water.
>
>
I just read that story a bit more closely and realized a couple of things.

1. He was not actually found with waders on and they don't seem to know for
sure that he had them on. But he was an "avid fisherman" and they talk about
how he might have shed the waders during his struggle. Certainly waders
would have contributed to his inability to get back in the kayak.

2. No mention if he was in a regular kayak or a sit-on-top. Lots of
fishermen use SOT kayaks these days but if it was a SOT he might have been
wearing waders for wind protection.

3. He was not far from his launch point when he went into the water. The
story said that he was found "less than 50 yards" from where he disappeared
and the person who discovered the body stated that she was sitting in a
trailer at the launch ramp when she saw something near the dock. When she
walked down the dock she saw that it was a body.

Certainly a PFD would have made a big difference unless he was entrapped or
entangled. The guy was only 39 years old and presumably could have simply
floated back to the launch ramp.  He would have been cold when he got to
shore but it would have been in plenty of time to avoid being incapacitated
in 60F water.

One might think that an MD (he was a psychiatrist) would know better than to
not wear a PFD. A good lesson for all of us.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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