Squall Lofting Fatality In Normandy

[RickI]

It looks like the 28 year old kiter was lofted into the dike or concrete walkway bordering the beach in strong squall winds in Houlgate (Calvados), around noon on November 11, 2019. He was evacuated by helicopter which was delayed due to strong winds at the beach. He suffered serious head injury and tragically died in hospital on November 30. RIP and strength to his family and friends.

Severe weather that day had caused other problems. An hour or so earlier a trawler was sunk within 6 miles away by heavy weather. Also, a tornado touched down in a town about 24 miles inland from Houlgate. More at https://tinyurl.com/uh6cbrf and at https://tinyurl.com/tkv6lbw and https://tinyurl.com/wlmnvh4

Stay out of squalls.

[Toby]

Sad to hear this.

My condolences to friends and family.

RIP

[purdyd]

28 years old and recently married. Rest In Peace and condolences to his family.

[Foil]

So sad to hear this.
After decades of experience I now fear approaching angry looking cloud formations, like the ones you can see in the background of the picture posted above.
Along with many others I have been caught out and shocked by how quickly conditions can change when these dark clouds get close to shore.
now (with hindsight) I get ashore very quickly and pack away my kite.
Its really bad and scary to get caught out when these clouds get too near.
We are all so fragile.

[Bille]

The wind in front of a squall line ; it can Kill you !

Bille

[TheJoe]

Should never roll the dice on a squall line.

[Sun]

Very heartfelt condolences! I kited in Houlgate this year, it is a lovely spot. Miles of beach at low tide, but launch is very close to the concrete barriers at high tide.

I hope the family finds solace in the fact that their loved one died doing what he surely loved, and that the spot is among the best in the world that I can think of to pass along at. The scenery is truly lovely.

[ShaveTheWhales]

That's really sad..

For all you people who have not experienced a "massive" squall
it happens "in front of the big black cloud front" not as it passes over you... as many believe and think they have time !!!!

[Foil]

just to add something weird from my experience of this.
here in the uk when this squall thing has happened more times than I can remember over my 40 or more years in a wet suit,
is that it is often the case that the weather has been fair and kite or sail sizes being used were on the big side, not small sizes, as many might expect, so i have not even been thinking the winds might turn nasty,
so this can really take many by surprise as everything stays completely normal until its too late to get ashore.
but once i had experienced the power of these squalls,it has made me have a little panic as I take action to get ahore and pack away well before the cloud front gets too near, I have also noticed a sharp drop in air temp, not every time, but a few times.

[nothing2seehere]

BKSA training (or at least the BKSA kite school I took lessons with) includes discussion of weather fronts and safety.

Its not as fun learning in cold water and thick wetsuits though so a lot of people still holiday somewhere warm to learn