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Old 05-21-2005, 07:15 PM
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Default Fatality In San Andres



In March 2005 six kiteboarders were riding off of Rocky Cay Beach near the central eastern shore of San Andres island, Colombia in the Western Caribbean.



Rocky Cay, San Andres, Colombia

The wind dropped to where the riders on 12 to 13 m kites were underpowered sending them into shore. One rider stayed out on an approximate 16 to 18 m kite in roughly 11 to 12 kt. onshore wind. The kiteboarder had been kiting for about 3 to 4 years and windsurfing for roughly 15 years off the island.


A view east from Rocky Cay Beach towards a shipwreck offshore.

He came within about 3 to 6 ft. from shore, did a small jump with the intension of changing direction (airborne transition), instead of sending the kite seaward the rider kept the kite pointed landward from the zenith.


A sectional illustration of the accident.

This resulted in the rider leaving the water and landing on the sand. He presumably fell over forwards The kiteboarder was then dragged head first across an approximate 10 ft. wide section of sand and into some rocks. The rider suffered severe head and/or neck injury. He was not wearing a helmet or impact vest. He was not seen to try to unhook however even at the relatively low wind speed, given the negligible distances likely would not have had time to react much less depower his kite before impact. The accident happened with his wife present on the beach. He later died while being transported to the hospital.
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Old 05-23-2005, 11:16 PM
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Riders kiteboarding and standing upwind and close to hard objects and bystanders is fairly common in many launch areas around the world. Often kiters get away with it, just NOT always. There have been readily avoidable accidents over the years and probably more on the way.

In kiteboarding, Distance Is Your Friend. Use it, always.

How else can you explain the fatality of a very experienced kiteboarder and waterman in ONLY 12 knots of wind?

This man was not alone in discounting the hazards of kiteboarding simply because they aren't shoved in our faces on a constant basis. I see it not that uncommonly on local beaches. We don't have rock layers, that commonly, but we do have bystanders, boards, logs, cobbles, etc. that could do serious harm. Guys can strike bottom and be knocked over to slide up the beach, their kites can wrap bystanders, waves can knock them over with similar results, etc. Checkout the KSI for stories of past accidents caused by lack of distance BY CLICKING HERE

A helmet might have spared this kiteboarders life. This is yet another of a growing list of sad losses and injuries that might have been avoided or minimized if safety gear had been used.

A rider recently was injured in a very similar accident in SE Florida involving a nearshore transition also within a few feet of shore in onshore winds. This accident resulted in paralysis of both of the kiters legs below his knees.

We don't control the wind, it controls our movements to a large degree. If we are too close and a gust comes, even a light one, we may be injured or injure others regardless of skill. Some of us will learn from this man's sad sacrifice and modify how we ride. Others among us will remain indifferent and largely oblivious of the hazard we pose foremost to ourselves and then to bystanders and our access to ride.

Another very experienced rider was recently killed in approximate 15 kt. winds with a 16 m kite in Colorado, USA. Just because the winds are light doesn't mean you can't be hurt. More about this accident CAN BE FOUND HERE

People frequently drop their guard in lighter winds although more than a few never quite raise it regardless of conditions. Some just trust to luck instead of knowledge and good technique to try to dodge problems. People sometimes don't take the hazards all that seriously because they never believe that they might be hurt themselves. Why is that?
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