Death in Seattle

[mlcrisis]

Details will be forthcoming. Right now we grieve the loss of a brother. Please be safe.

[mlcrisis]

Friday, October 19, 2007 - Page updated at 02:03 a.m.

1 killed, 1 hurt in windstorm




A 44-year-old kite surfer died Thursday afternoon on Lake Washington amid a brief but powerful windstorm that also knocked a tree onto a woman in Kent as it swept through the Puget Sound region.

The Seattle man, whose name was not released, was the only reported death as steady winds hit 40 mph, with gusts in the mid-50s. Tens of thousands of people also lost power for a time in the storm, which toppled trees and blew debris onto roadways, cars and houses.

The man was reported facedown in the lake at 5:27 p.m., about a half-mile west of the Kirkland Marina Park, said Jeff Kappel, a Seattle police spokesman.

"He was apparently unresponsive," Kappel said. "There were friends out there along with him, and they're the ones that called it in."

A spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle confirmed the death but would not release any details.

Jon LaFollett, 44, of Kirkland, was another kite surfer who had been in the lake. He did not see the accident and did not know the victim.

He said the wind Thursday was "a good southerly storm," which made for "not an easy kiting day," but he was able to make jumps off the water that reached 50 feet.

[Kitebdr1962]

How can someone tell Us that it was "A Good Southerly Storm", and NOT know that it was Stormy.....If it was Stormy, why in the He** were these Guys out in this weather...If this Guy was out in it, the Gentleman who passed on, Why did He NOT get off the Water...We will never know, what was in His mind at the time, but this is Why you take Lessons, instead of "Doing this Sport" on your own...Even if He did take Lessons, then He should have know to get off the water, before the so called Storm/Gust hit...It just did not come out of the blue, without some kind of warning before it hit....Think Safety, Not Ego...I am very Sad to hear of this kind of Stuff, but We, as Kiteboarders, need to know how to read the weather, because Mother Nature can be Our friend, or She can kick Our butts.....

[kitester]

This sounds like a case of sailing right to last second. People sometimes push the time limit right before storm because the wind often gets better and better right up to the point it greatly exceeds the riders ability or the kites high end limit. Of course these riders may not have seen it before it hit. We all know that there is no way to control a kite after wind velocity reaches a certian point (different for different sizes, makes and models) Weather and wind are awsome forces of nature. Wherever you sail you should be familiar with the local signs of aproaching storms. If you go somewhere new get the skinny from the local guys before you sail.

My condolances to this mans family and friends.

[Dr_Rosen]

When would you guys stop riding? I mean what's your wind limit.
I have been out in 36-40 knots with a 7 m2 SB1 (good depower). Felt quite safe, but don't think I would go out in more.

[Dimitri M]

People have to realize that kiting in 35+++ knots is very very very dangerous. In these kind of condition things happen very fast. And most accidents happen in strong winds.
I am very sorry to what happen but flying a kite is like flying a plane or any other kind of sports that has to do with flying. That is why you always have to check the weather or the wind conditions before you put the kite up.
Again I am so sorry, my thoughts and prayers are with the family.

P.S. Most of my kiting is from 14 to 30 knots. Don't take me wrong, I will kite above 30 but this is only for special occasions i.e (photos shoots, R&D, contest)

[Tom183]

When would you guys stop riding? I mean what's your wind limit.
I have been out in 36-40 knots with a 7 m2 SB1 (good depower). Felt quite safe, but don't think I would go out in more.

There is a HUGE difference between a steady 35kts on a small kite, and gusty/stormy 25-50.

And there's a huge difference between feeling safe and actually BEING safe - that kind of complacency can get you killed in those conditions.

[windshreder]

A sad day.

Delta Air Lines pilot Capt. Dan B. (name withheld) reportedly drowned in Lake Washington on Thursday during a windstorm. Dan was hired in January, 1990, and had been most recently based in Salt Lake City.


1 killed, 1 hurt in windstorm
By Erik Lacitis

Seattle Times staff reporter


A 44-year-old kite surfer died Thursday afternoon on Lake Washington amid a brief but powerful windstorm that also knocked a tree onto a woman in Kent as it swept through the Puget Sound region.

The Seattle man, whose name was not released, was the only reported death as steady winds hit 40 mph, with gusts in the mid-50s. Tens of thousands of people also lost power for a time in the storm, which toppled trees and blew debris onto roadways, cars and houses.

The man was reported facedown in the lake at 5:27 p.m., about a half-mile west of the Kirkland Marina Park, said Jeff Kappel, a Seattle police spokesman.

"He was apparently unresponsive," Kappel said. "There were friends out there along with him, and they're the ones that called it in."

A spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle confirmed the death but would not release any details.

Jon LaFollett, 44, of Kirkland, was another kite surfer who had been in the lake. He did not see the accident and did not know the victim.

He said the wind Thursday was "a good southerly storm," which made for "not an easy kiting day," but he was able to make jumps off the water that reached 50 feet.


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more news clips, Seattle PI:

As the wind whipped, sometimes over 50 mph, emergency crews responded to a flood of calls. The highest reported gust was 62 mph in Spanaway, and the wind forced the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge for nearly three hours, starting at 4:30 p.m. One of the most serious emergency calls came at 5:30 p.m. from a Lake Washington kite boarder who watched as another boarder was dragged north by the gusting wind. A Seattle police patrol boat found the 44-year-old boarder floating face down about half a mile from the Kirkland marina, Officer Jeff Kappel said. When rescuers pulled the Seattle man from the water he was unresponsive and not breathing. Police aboard the Harbor Patrol boat performed CPR on the man, as did medics who rushed him to Harborview Medical Center. Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the man did not regain consciousness on the trip to the hospital. Stowing his gear at Magnuson Park just before sundown, kite boarder Larry Breuer said the thoughts and prayers of the rest of the boarders were with the victim and his family. Breuer, who's been in the sport nearly a year, was one of a number of boarders out on Lake Washington as the wind picked up Thursday afternoon. He said sustained wind speeds were not particularly severe, but that some gusts might have topped 40 mph. "When you're out there, you're one with the environment," Breuer said.

[Andres_Santacruz]

Guys, please show some respect to our fallen brother's family and friends, they will read these posts. It is so easy to say i told you so! from the comfort and anonymity of thousands of kilometers behind your computer screen and "screen name". The conditions sound like they were strong but no one will ever know what went wrong but Dan, and he can't tell us now.
Please reserve your judgements, we are mostly adults, and we are all responsible for our own actions. Every time there is a death everyone says the same things, just take what learnings you can.

[Windrider]

When would you guys stop riding? I mean what's your wind limit.
I have been out in 36-40 knots with a 7 m2 SB1 (good depower). Felt quite safe, but don't think I would go out in more.

Most stay out until they've had their first "close call" of the session. That's their signal that it may be getting too hairy. But, sometimes that first close call is the real thing.