Re: [Paddlewise] Video of a kayak rescue in Puget Sound

Someone told me that the first video they saw on King TV was of the kayak
being taken to the ferry. Then when they went to the link they saw the same
video we all have watched. It would appear the kayak was rescued. The kayak
looked to be a Dagger Meridian S. I got the impression the paddler did not
know how to do a paddle float rescue even though he had all the equipment he
should need. If he did perhaps he was never instructed to fasten it to the
kayak and found the waves made it too difficult to keep in place while he
tried to reenter the cockpit. It is possible he had failed and given up saw
the ferry and just waited for rescue. He still looked plenty strong when
helping get himself aboard the Zodiac, so I don't think he was in the roughly
45 degree water for very long. He did have most of his body out of the water
while waiting which was good. It also looked like he had something white he
was holding under his left arm (and not the paddle blade). I haven't been able
to see what that might have been though. He must have had one very painfully
cold foot. I wonder how he lost one bootie?

I suspect his paddle that got caught between the Zodiac and motor was broken
as they sped away by the outboard motor even though the prop had a cage around
it. I wish the cameraperson hadn't zoomed back so quickly as I was hoping to
see what happened to that paddle.

One news article said his name was Scott Redfern, who lives nearby in West
Seattle and paddles most days. There was a small craft warning on Monday. He
said the wind came up quickly and he swamped while trying to turn around.
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