SAR: Preventable Tragedies

October-November 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Lee (Dixon) Hindrichs

In mid-August, while guiding a group of inexperienced kayakers around Portland Island, I came across a large group of kayakers out enjoying the fabulous weather. This group had rented kayaks from Vancouver Island and paddled over to Portland. What a great trip I thought, but then I began to notice a few things that make me rethink. What a scary trip!

Three of the paddlers had their PFDs shoved, underneath shock cords on their aft decks, or shoved into their cockpits, while others had them undone because of the heat. Several were enjoying a few brewskies enroute, the empties 'responsibly' stuck under shock cords on deck. Several minutes later, out of sight and vocal range of the main group I found paddlers in a double and single kayak wondering if I was part of their group and which way should they go? Interesting leadership style. I guess this group was not particularly experienced.

The Gods were smiling on fools this day, but other days the Gods are not so lenient. The following are a few of a series of case summaries from the Recreational Boating Fatality Report for British Columbia 1992-1995. It is published by the Canadian Coast Guard-Pacific Region Office of Boating Safety. Statistics for 1996 are currently being compiled.

The stark paragraphs that sum up the last hours of these individuals lives need little evaluating. Readers can form their own judgements.

INDIVIDUAL CASE SUMMARIES

25-year-old female drowned in Sproat Lake hear Port Alberni after a collision between a powerboat and a kayak. The deceased and two friends were in three kayaks at night (23:00 hrs). The kayaks did not have lights. A powerboat ran into the deceased's kayak first and then hit the other kayaks. The other kayakers were able to right their crafts and re-enter. The third person could not and drowned. The powerboat left the scene of accident. The deceased was not wearing a PFD. No PFD was found on the kayak. The deceased had an alcohol level of .03 (not considered a factor). The power boater was not found.

35-year-old male drowned in the Peace River near Fort St. John. The deceased was last seen taking a kayak for a short trip at 21:00 hrs. The kayak was found capsized the next day and the body was recovered 11 days later. The deceased was not wearing a PFD and none was found on the kayak. Alcohol content.13. The deceased was considered an inexperienced paddler.

34-year-old male drowned in McIvor Lake near Campbell River. Two people in a canoe. The wind came up and the occupants began to paddle back to shore. Both persons were paddling on same side of canoe causing the vessel to capsize. One person swam to shore for help while the other remained hanging onto the canoe. The person returned with help but the man was seen letting go of the canoe and sinking into the lake. The body was not recovered. Neither occupant was wearing a PFD and none were in the vessel. Cold water was mentioned in the coroner's report. The incident occurred around 20:20 hrs. and deceased was last seen at 20:35 hrs. Alcohol was not considered a factor.

32-year-old male drowned in Buntzen Lake in Belcarra Park. Three people in a canoe capsized. There was some indication of strong wind/waves and the canoeists were inexperienced. The two people wearing PFDs made it to shore. Two adult PFDs and three children's PFDs were on board the canoe. The incident occurred at 17:00 hrs. (the body was recovered at 18:30 hrs.) Cold water, strong wind /waves, inexperience and no PFD were mentioned in the coroner's report.

23-year-old male drowned in the Sukanka River near Chetwynd. Three people in a canoe capsized in strong current/rapids. Two people swam to shore. The third person was holding onto the canoe and was washed downstream. The incident occurred around 10:50 hrs (the body was recovered eight hours later). No one was wearing a PFD and there was none mentioned in the canoe. Alcohol was not a factor.

28-year-old male drowned in the Kicking Horse River, near Golden. The deceased and four others were kayaking on the river. The victim's kayak capsized in strong currents/rapids washing him out of his kayak and downstream. The other kayakers mentioned they had problems with capsizing as well. The incident occurred at 15:00 hrs. and the body was recovered at 15:30 hrs. The deceased was wearing a wetsuit and helmet but no PFD. There was no mention if the others were wearing any floatation of if PFDs were available. Alcohol was not a factor.

18-year-old male drowned in Comox Lake near Comox in a canoeing accident. Two people in a 16-ft canoe capsized, possibly caused by the wake from passing powerboats (mentioned in the coroner's report). One person remained with the capsized canoe while the other tried to swim to shore for help (didn't make it). Neither person was wearing a PFD (not mentioned if any were on board). Both had been mixing beer and gravol earlier. The incident occurred around 17:30 hrs.

18-year-old male drowned in a canoeing accident on the Chemainus River near Chemainus. Two people were on the vessel when it capsized in strong current/ rapids. Both occupants were wearing a PFD when the incident occurred (16:30 hrs.) The deceased was washed downstream and the PFD appears to have been washed off the body. No mention of alcohol.

COMMENTARY

I have included both kayaks and canoes since both have similar qualities. Kayaking/ canoeing fatalities together accounted for over 24% of all boating fatalities in that three-year period. Since 1995 the number of kayakers has increased dramatically - it is the fastest growing sport on the coast - so we can expect that kayakers will account for an increasing percentage of fatalities unless we can change some of the behaviours seen above.

Of the thirty-five deaths I looked at from the '92-'95 statistics, only five of the victims can claim that they were prepared for their sport and taking a calculated risk. The other 30 wasted their lives on a poor judgement call.

. In 12 cases (34%) alcohol or drugs were a factor. In every case where drinking was involved no PFDs were worn and the weather was not a factor.

. In 20 deaths (57%) no PFDs were worn.

. One case was a malfunction of a PFD and one case was a poorly fitting PFD.

. Weather was a factor in 11 deaths.

. 50% of deaths occurred on lakes, 28% on rivers and 22% on the ocean.

It's time to wake up and paddle safely. Kayakers need to take personal responsibility for our spot. Insist that everyone in your group paddles with a PFD. Suggest that anyone taking up kayaking take lessons. Drinking and paddling is just plain stupid with some very harsh consequences.

A moment of silence for all those who have died and the families they have left behind.

Lee (Dixon) Hindrichs co-owns and operates Windrunner Ocean Adventures in Sidney, BC. Ph: 250/216-2628.

(Congratulations Lee and Steve for finally tying the knot!