Sucia Island Tragedy

Yet another piece of bad news. Not directly kayak related, but a reminder of how cold that water is. These men went hypothermic in less than 10 minutes, and one died. It also dispels the myth that if there are other boats in the area, you're fine. There were boats within 100 yards. They were able to help a couple guys, but unfortunately not all. One of the guys was wearing waders that apparently filled with water (not 100% sure about that, but that's what it sounds like).

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/19/2528828/whatcom-county-man-identified.html

So the kayak angle is the importance of immersion gear.

I know inflatable life vests are comfy but it sounds like one guy struggled to inflate his. I'm surprised hypothermia set in after just 10 minutes, thought that took much longer but perhaps it's related to their age. Need to research that.

Amen on the immersion gear.

Wow.  Glad I wear my drysuit every time!

Definitely surprised that fatal hypothermia could occur that quickly.  Either they were in water a lot longer than 10 minutes, or they were already mildly hypothermic even before getting dunked.  That or maybe the guy that died had that gasp reflex induced heart attack after hitting the cold water you hear about.

Thanks for the link Rory.  Sad news which reminds us all that current and sterns do not play well together.

Wow.  Glad I wear my drysuit every time!

Definitely surprised that fatal hypothermia could occur that quickly.  Either they were in water a lot longer than 10 minutes, or they were already mildly hypothermic even before getting dunked.  That or maybe the guy that died had that gasp reflex induced heart attack after hitting the cold water you hear about.

I think it has a lot to do with the condition of the person's heart and how cold the water is. An older guy in 50˚ water seems like 10 min would be about right.

Thanks for the post Rory.

This "Cold Water Boot Camp" was posted recently, but it can stand to be mentioned again:



The main thing I took away from the video is that hypothermia will set in quickly, in the form of limiting physical functioning, but fatal hypothermia - lowering of core body temperature beyond recovery- will take quite awhile, more than just minutes. Swimming will cease to be an option at some point - and it may be rather quickly - but if you are wearing a life jacket, it will give you a chance to be rescued. The fact that the man who succumbed did so after 10 minutes makes me think that he may have died from causes other than hypothermia, although the effects of hypothermia undoubtedly caused or contributed to whatever killed him.

The hip boots he was wearing surely filled and made it hard to lift him aboard, but that is not to be confused with the chest waders and a drytop combo many of us kayakers wear.

The details of that story are sketchy. Anyway, one of them died...not good.

Interesting video, Zee. Hadn't seen that one before. Must have been a depressing cartoon to make for whoever made it.

Interesting video, Zee. Hadn't seen that one before. Must have been a depressing cartoon to make for whoever made it.

Not as depressed as the guys who had to make this.

Not to be confused with Rainbow Dash, Bronies.


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