Russian kitesurfer dies in Kaliningrad

[dandaka]

9th April 2017. Water around 3°, air 7°. Wind about 8-10 m/s.

Wore drysuit, helmet. He took a kitesurfing backpack with something inside. No hand gloves, no safety vest.

Started alone from a crowded spot downwind to his house. Was not a experienced kitesurfer, was struggling with going upwind from time to time.

RIP

https://youtu.be/8mCLbUsucUo

https://youtu.be/8mCLbUsucUo

[Toby]

Sorry to hear this, my condolences!

But what happened? And what does the video show, didn't see anything...maybe I missed it ?

[dandaka]

You can see rider there. He drops kite to water and floats from there.

What happened is unknown. He was taken from water with foam from his mouth, still with pulse.

[edt]

all we can do is speculate. From the video it looks like he lost his board and was body dragging back home. Possible he had a bad gasket in his drysuit but we'll never know for sure.

[Toby]

Sorry, now I saw it.

If that could he could have lost too much energy or maybe a heart attack.

Keep us informed what autopsy says so we can understand more.

[Bushflyr]

Bummer. From the time the kite comes into the picture it looks like it's just uncontrolled death loops. Probably whatever happened was well before the kite crashes @ 2:10.

[RickI]

I am sorry for the lost kiter's wife and son, strength.

I think the uncontrolled kite looping may be what happened, again as speculation. The wind was fairly good at 15 to 20 kts., removing the need for strong sining, absent a small kite. dandaka do you have information about what sized kite he was on? I am not certain when the looping started however. Were there any witnesses at the crowded launch area? It looks like the kite may have been looping when it first appeared leaving the shore whether by intent or accidentally. The lines may be been rigged incorrectly or there could have been a tangle around the time of launch if so? That duration of powered looping could be enough to cause a heart attack by itself.

From the youtube caption:
"В воскресенье 9 апреля 2017 в Зеленоградске (Калининградская область) произошла трагедия, погиб один из наших кайтсерферов "саня111". Я не знал его лично, но судя по отзывам он был храбрым дядькой — катался часто один в суровых условиях. В этот раз он не справился с холодным морем Остались жена и сын 15 лет. Вытащили его еще с пульсом, скорая ехала 50 минут..."

and poor machine translation:
On Sunday, April 9, 2017 in Zelenogradsk (Kaliningrad region), a tragedy occurred, one of our kitesurfers "sanya111" died. I did not know him personally, but judging by the responses he was a brave uncle - he often skated alone in harsh conditions. This time he did not cope with the cold sea: (Remained wife and son of 15. They pulled him out with a pulse, the ambulance drove 50 minutes ...

[loco4viento]

Very unforgiving conditions and a tragic story. Condolences to all surviving family and friends.

[dandaka]

@Bushflyr @RickI
Where do you see kite loops? I see the surfer controlling kite with little speed (suggesting body dragging). After some time kite loses power and drops to water. After that there is 1-2 attempts to relaunch, which fail (due lack of wind or lack of lines tension).

Since the guy made it around Zelenogradsk pier, I don't support looping theory. You can see the scheme here:

I don't know about kite size, but assume 12m² as most popular kite around.

Witnesses at kite launch were 2km upwind of incident. The guy left alone despite any advices, as he always did. Lines were rigged correctly, he was able to control kite and clear this distance.

Witnesses around destination tell, that they saw a kite in water and took the guy out.

[Kamikuza]

Sad news