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Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:12 pm
by Toby
I just read about a fatality in Germany.

Not really clear what happened, but for sure his lines where around his neck.
It also says, he was in preparation to get onto the water (on a river, so gusty conditions), then gusts hit him, he hit land several times and the lines tangled around his neck.
He died in the hospital.

http://www.ksta.de/chorweiler/tragische ... 72566.html

Sounds like he was alone, so no one will have details.

A golden rule has been broken here: never go out alone. Keep those rules in mind, it could have saved his life, since I assume he wanted to self launch, got lofted, then fell into his lines and then killed him this way.

RIP

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:33 pm
by eloico
never go out alone is a golden rule? Not for me.

Then, I would never kitesurf.


sorry about the accident. I guess the problem was not that he was alone, but more that he was not experienced with kitesurfing and the dangerous gusty conditions.


Eloico

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:04 pm
by MarcThompson
Guess the broken golden rule was: never kitesurf without taking lessons and knowing safety measures. But it is hard to judge. We can only imply what was the real problem.

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:22 pm
by Toby
well, to keep it safe there are the Golden Rules.
You break one, you should know the risk.

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:30 pm
by mike holmes
Very sad to hear this.
condolences

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:53 pm
by DrLightWind
Than I could say I'm the lucky man.
2 weeks ago I went out with a big kite and suddenly picked up like crazy,
so I activated the safety QR to kill the pulling so the kite landed and the lines came loose.
But suddenly the kite started to fly agains my will and in that instant moment the line,
which was connected to the bypass leash rapped around my ankle
and being pulled like a bait fish under the water.
I reached under the water behind my harness to release my secondary bypass leash safety QR,
after a struggle but the fk**en kite would not go and release because I was pulled by the line,
which was tight and wrapped around my ankle as I mentioned.
Only about twice in about 2 minutes I was able to submerge grasping for air meanwhile trying to pull the line in
with my hand to make it loose so I could let the kite go.
It was very difficult and after the 4th attempt I was able to make it loose enough to get out of the loop
when it almost rapped around my releasing palm when the kite flew away offshore and I was free.
I swam near to the shore all-wright where my kite was drifting downwind but I was able to
grab it,
and instantly when it happened a boat appeared, because they found my board dropping it off to, and wished have a nice day.
I had life west which didn't mean sh!t :!:
I had triple release back up system which didn't mean sh!t :!:
But I didn't have a knife to cut the line because I thought it would never happen to me, sh!t :!:
That's the lesson I learned and I'm glad to be here.

DrLW

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:09 pm
by balugh
Always sad to hear this kind of news...and condolences to the rider's family and friends.

Dr LW....I had a similar event a few years ago with a line wrapped around my ankle after I tumbled through them during a fall. I hope I learned a lesson or 2 during my lucky escape.

Toby....so far this year we've got 2 fatalities in Canada and 1 in Germany? Any more that we know about?

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:42 pm
by edt
Toby why does it say Lenkdrachens or "Stunt Kite" it makes it sound like he was on a trainer with hand rings doing jumps on land.

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:03 pm
by CaptainArgh
DrLightWind wrote:Than I could say I'm the lucky man.
2 weeks ago I went out with a big kite and suddenly picked up like crazy,
so I activated the safety QR to kill the pulling so the kite landed and the lines came loose.
But suddenly the kite started to fly agains my will and in that instant moment the line,
which was connected to the bypass leash rapped around my ankle
and being pulled like a bait fish under the water...DrLW
Holy crap. You are lucky! Glad to hear you survived that one.

I use the Wenoka Deep See Squeeze Lock Knife. It can be mounted to the webbing of most harnesses pretty easily. I don't know if it would have helped you or not, but I barely know it's there and would hope I'd be able to get to it in a panic. ?

Re: Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:14 pm
by Toby
edt wrote:Toby why does it say Lenkdrachens or "Stunt Kite" it makes it sound like he was on a trainer with hand rings doing jumps on land.
I assume the reporters have no clue, that's why.
But, could have been a landkiter as well...

DrLightWind: happy you made it! :thumb:
Where was your leash connected at the harness?