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Saunton Beach death

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andylc
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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby andylc » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:04 pm

Does anybody know the circumstances of the accident? It sounds like it may not have been directly related to the conditions in the day, certainly from other descriptions these were conditions that most of us would be going out in given the opportunity.
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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby Mike101 » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:38 pm

The wind history I found for the nearest beach- westward Ho! - didn't seem too outrageous. 20-30knots. I went out at Lancing and it was nuking 30-45 so I don't know.

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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby Zen_Rider » Tue Feb 12, 2019 2:22 pm


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Toby
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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby Toby » Tue Feb 12, 2019 3:07 pm

Very sad to read this.

Unfortunately no further info on what happened, only that his girlfriend pulled him out of the water.

So it could be a bad crash?

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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby SLiiCK » Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:19 pm

This is such sad sad news Ben was a local to the area and experienced, I knew him because he was setting up a water sports school back in 2017 "3 Elements" and he contacted me and asked me to help design the logo's and gear for his school, he was so exited about this, then in 2018 it became NDK (North Devon Kitesurfing) which was the next step up. I learnt to kitesurf down in Saunton back in 2001 its a big beach and can get some big swell I don't know what happened I've not kited there in 5 years, but my thoughts go out to his girlfriend and family it is such a tragedy he will be sadly missed !!

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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby protonbart » Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:40 pm

Ben WItts from West Kiteboarding in Devon was the person who died :( Can anyone speculate as to what happened...we need to continously improve this sports safety.

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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby Foil » Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:33 pm

Wow!
You must read all the Devon Gazette's wording regarding this horrible event,
It is extreamly moving.
This guy was a massively experienced kitesurfer and Waterman,
A fitness instructor and all round loved and respected guy.
Read the related articals to the newspapers story,
It really will make you think.

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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby ScoopZ » Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:50 pm

Very moving, sounds like there were many there.

With respect, knowing the exact details and presumption of recklessness, are and were, not appropriate imo.

Ciao Ben.
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james (Tue Feb 12, 2019 11:10 pm)
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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby james » Tue Feb 12, 2019 11:09 pm

protonbart wrote:
Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:40 pm
Ben WItts from West Kiteboarding in Devon was the person who died :( Can anyone speculate as to what happened...we need to continously improve this sports safety.
Rather than speculate as to the cause of his death. Maybe it would be the decent thing to wait for the facts to emerge after the coroner has completed thier report?

This demand for instant information and speculation is utterly distasteful in my opinion
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Re: Saunton Beach death

Postby RedSky » Tue Feb 12, 2019 11:34 pm

I was buggying on the Friday at Camber which is a fair bit further east but essentially the same weather system, a south-westerly that made its way eastward. 7m weather, it was gusting but nothing too exciting.
Saturday if I remember was to be a little less wild with a more westerly wind direction. WSW I think, so I did not bother going out.

Horrible news all the same.

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