RIP and strength to his family and friends.
A rough computer translation of
http://www.newtv.co.th/news/9437 follows:
"The young Icelandic Kite surfing in the sea, Hua Hin died in the wind.
At 13.00 hrs. On 20 Dec., Police Lieutenant Charoen Kongkai, Vice Inspector of Hua Hin Police Station, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Foreigners drowned in sea water in Hua Hin 77, opposite the BMA, Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin municipality, along with Maj. Water and Light Foundation Hua Hin Dharma disaster to the scene. The funeral of Mr. Jonathan Jassavachan, 43, Icelandic tourist. Sleeping on the beach in Kite Surfing Kite Surfing is also found nearby. It was about 30 minutes before the body was sent to Hua Hin Hospital to see the doctor again.
Mr. Srivichai Tungla, 26, Kite Surf Instructor Surf Surf Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand, says that Jonathan regularly plays kitesurfing on a regular basis. But the company closed every Wednesday. Jonathan then opened the locker, bringing the equipment to play himself at the beach alone from noon in the windy waves. While playing in the umbrella of the sea, the rope wrapped around the rope, wrapped around the rope that lay before pulling Jonathan down. With friends and foreigners playing Kitesurf close to each other, saw hurriedly out to help cut the rope that wrapped Jonathan out and took him to shore. But Jonathan suffers from chronic respiratory failure, drowning."
Hopefully, someone who understands Thai and/or may know more from the scene can correct some of the following impressions if incorrect. It sounds like the 43 year old Icelandic tourist was an experienced kiter who kept his gear in a locker at the shop on the beach there. The shop was closed but the man recovered his gear for a mid day session in good wind and waves? Guessing at this point, it seems like his kite line was caught be a buoy rope perhaps with his kite loading up in wind and/or breaking waves pulling him under and/or tangling him in his own kite line? Other kiters responded and cut him free returning him to the beach.
Kite lines caught by almost anything, tree branches, rocks on the bottom, piling or buoy ropes can lead to serious problems if the kite loads up in the wind perhaps figuring eighting, or loads up in waves and/or current pulling the kiter in. If the tangle is beneath the surface, the kiter may be pulled under and held there. If the tangle is in tree branches, they can act like pulleys sling shoting the kiter up and through the tree canopy. There have been other cases like these over the years.
Anticipate and work to avoid tangles. There have been some bad accidents over the years resulting from tangles. If you see your lines heading towards a snag be ready to release the kite entirely without delay. If your kite has been on the water for a while before the snag it is possible you have been tangled by submerged kite line yourself without your knowledge. Always carry a hook knife(s) and be ready to use it to try to cut free, use an appropriate impact vest, etc.. Having a submerged tangle on the kiter with a loaded kite is a real bad, uncertain situation to try to resolve. Kiting with others who keep an eye on one another may provide critical help in time if possible. Drowning can happen very rapidly, avoidance of these scenarios is key.