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Kiteboarder Fatality in the Netherlands

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Postby Guest » Mon Jul 08, 2002 8:14 pm

Unfortunately a Kitesurfer suffered a skull basis breach at the Brouwersdam the Netherlands through the using of a Boardleash. In weak wind (3 Bf.) and with large Kites (15-18m2) the Verünglückte made a leap in the vicinity of the bank, that ended in a Sturz. At the same time the Leash hurled the Board against the head of the Kitesurfers that thereupon immediately the consciousness lost. Kitesurfer recognized two further to the good fortune the situation and rescued perished that. This attained first at the beach again the consciousness and became flown with the rescue helicopter to Rotterdam into the hospital.

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Postby RickI » Mon Jul 08, 2002 8:27 pm

I am very sorry to hear about this sad accident. I wish to extend my regret and sympathy to the riders family and friends on their loss.

This is the third kiteboarding fatality in about a month. If I understand things correctly, the rider suffered a fatal head impact from his board that was caused by the recoil of his leash? I would very much appreciate it if you could email me privately at: flkitesurfer@hotmail.com

I would like to learn more about the circumstances of this accident if possible and in turn share the lessons of this sad experience.

Rick Iossi

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Postby Guest » Mon Jul 08, 2002 8:58 pm

A simple rule: If you are using a leach, use a helmet.
Personally I managed to break a fin on my board with my head a few years ago, 14 stitches... luckily I never lost my consiens and managed to get ashore by my self.
Now I always wear a helmet, even when I dont use the leach. It's enough with one death experience.

/B

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Postby Guest » Mon Jul 08, 2002 10:14 pm

Can you post the link to the original German article?

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Postby Toby » Mon Jul 08, 2002 11:04 pm

So sad to hear this again. :cry:
But the posting before stated a perfect rule:
using a board leash requires a helmet.

My condolences.

Toby

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Postby Geronymous » Tue Jul 09, 2002 8:40 am

I don't know so much about this accident, just what I read in this and another forum (kitesurf.nl), but the kiteboarder did not die according to the original German text. The confusion comes from the "automatic" translation. The (apparently Belgian) kiteboarder had a severe head injury.

Here is the original text:
"Leider hat ein Kitesurfer am Brouwersdam in Holland einen Schädelbasisbruch durch das Benutzen einer Boardleash erlitten. Bei schwachem Wind (3 Bf.) und mit großen Kites (15-18m2) hat der Verünglückte einen Sprung in der Nähe vom Ufer gemacht, der in einem Sturz endete. Dabei schleuderte die Leash das Board gegen den Kopf des Kitesurfers, der daraufhin sofort das Bewußtsein verloren hat. Zum Glück erkannten zwei weitere Kitesurfer die Situation und retteten den Verunglückten. Dieser erlangte erst am Strand wieder das Bewußtsein und wurde mit dem Rettungshubschrauber nach Rotterdam ins Krankenhaus geflogen."

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Postby Toby » Tue Jul 09, 2002 9:24 am

the translation says tt he was unconscious, and two other kiters immediately helped and took him to the beach, where he became conscious again and then was taken into a hospital.

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Postby RickI » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:48 pm

More information has been provided from the area of the accident, please see the bottom portion of the following. I very much hope that this rider didn't die but was written off through an automatic translation error. Confirmation of his survival would be sincerely appreciated. His account carries import conclusions for all of us.

Rick Iossi

Thank you for providing more information from the area of the
accident and for wearing a helmet routines. A repost of the original
account in German has appeared on kiteforum.com. (see below) It
indicates that the rider didn't die which would be a great thing.
Could you confirm his survival and this automatic internet translation
screwup?

Rick Iossi

don't know so much about this accident, just what I read in this and
another forum (kitesurf.nl), but the
kiteboarder did not die according to the
original German text. The confusion comes from the "automatic"
translation. The (apparently Belgian)
kiteboarder had a severe head injury.

Here is the original text:
"Leider hat ein Kitesurfer am Brouwersdam
in Holland einen Schädelbasisbruch durch das Benutzen einer
Boardleash erlitten. Bei schwachem Wind (3
Bf.) und mit großen Kites (15-18m2) hat der Verünglückte einen
Sprung in der Nähe vom Ufer gemacht, der in
einem Sturz endete. Dabei schleuderte die Leash das Board gegen
den Kopf des Kitesurfers, der daraufhin
sofort das Bewußtsein verloren hat. Zum Glück erkannten zwei weitere
Kitesurfer die Situation und retteten den
Verunglückten. Dieser erlangte erst am Strand wieder das Bewußtsein
und wurde mit dem Rettungshubschrauber nach
Rotterdam ins Krankenhaus geflogen."

the translation says tt he was unconscious, and two other kiters
immediately helped and took him to the beach,
where he became conscious again and then
was taken into a hospital.


--- In kitesurf@y..., Jef.Van.De.Mosselaer@a... wrote:
>
> I agree completely. Helmets are needed when you use a board leash. I
surf
> without board leash now, but still wear my helmet.
>
> I always surf at Brouwersdam. I started kitesurfing there four years
ago.
> It is a safe place to kite, there is lots of room to launch your
kite and
> there are no obstacles that you can hit. Last year, and certainly
this
> year, a lot of new people got into the sport. Unfortunately they are
not
> allways very well aware of the dangers of the sport. I got hit on
the head
> by my board three times already because I was wearing a board leash.
> Luckily I always wear a helmet. Unfortunately I am one of the few
riders at
> Brouwersdam with this habit.
> Last sunday I arrived after the accident, so I did not see what
happened. I
> do not know if the guy was a beginner or not, or how big the kite
was that
> he used. Before going on the water I measured 14-15 knots, but with
gusts
> to 17-18 knots and lulls to 11 knots. It was difficult surfing. I
was out
> with my RRD 14.9m. One second overpowered, the next second
underpowered.
> Not really good learning conditions. There were definitely people
out there
> with kites too big for there capabilities. I saw lots of crashes.
But then
> again, that is part of learning to kitesurf.
>
> Jef
>
>
>
>

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Postby Sake » Tue Jul 09, 2002 1:29 pm

On the dutch forum just came the news that the guy is still alive! Good news!
He was conscious again and his head got stitching.

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Postby Sake » Tue Jul 09, 2002 1:37 pm

Not translated:
De desbetreffende kitesurfer leeft nog, achteraf viel het allemaal wel mee.
Het is natuurlijk nog serieus genoeg, maar overleden is hij nog niet.
Pat. kwam op de S.E.H aan spontaan ademend en bij kennis,(max. emv score ), en abc was ook in orde.
Hoofdwond is gehecht en pat. is ter observatie opgenomen en door de molen gegaan.


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