Kayak Safety: Kayak deaths/ Accidents across the US

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ds some recent ones I found -

http://www.pressherald.com

4/15/12 missing kayaker off S Maine beach dies

SACO, Maine—A 51-year-old kayaker who was reported missing near Saco Bay in southern Maine has died.

The Maine Sunday Telegram (http://bit.ly/ITHcvx) says the unidentified kayaker died at Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he was taken after he was found face-up in the water Saturday evening.

A Maine Marine Patrol aircraft found the man's kayak upright and empty about 150 feet off Higgins Beach. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter located him, but he was unresponsive. He was wearing a lifejacket and wetsuit.

The kayaker was transferred by Coast Guard boat crews to Maine Medical Center.

[albiealert]

4/15//12

Father of 2 drowns in pond near des plains Chicago after being attacked on kayak by swan?


http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/...r-des-plaines/
Father Of Two Drowns In Pond Near Des Plaines

April 15, 2012 10:29 AM

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Anthony Hensley and his wife, Amy. (Credit: Facebook)


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Anthony Hensley, Bay colony Drive, Des Plaines, drowning, Geese, pond, Swans, villa park

Updated 04/15/12 – 4:19 p.m.
DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) – A man who neighbors say was devoted to caring for the swans of a Des Plaines area apartment complex might have paid for that devotion with his life.
CBS 2′s Mike Puccinelli has the story of a Villa Park man who died in what witnesses say was a freak incident.
Early Saturday, Anthony Hensley, 37, was in a kayak on a pond at an apartment complex in the 9300 block of Bay Colony Drive in an unincorporated area of Cook County near Des Plaines, checking on swans that were kept at the pond to keep geese away. Officials said he either got too close to the swans, or their nest, when one of the birds swam towards his kayak, and the kayak flipped over.
“His kayak wasn’t upside down, but it was, like, upwards,” eyewitness Daniel Gamanov said “You could see the tip of it.”



Gamanov saw the tragedy unfold right outside his family’s apartment Saturday morning. He and his friends watched as Hensley’s body was pulled from the pond.
It was Hensley’ job to care for the swans at the Bay Colony Drive apartment complex near Des Plaines, but Saturday morning something went wrong, and there was an altercation with at least one of the large birds.
“They probably thought that he was going too close to their eggs, and they were too scared, and they just attacked him,” Gamanov said.
He was awakened by a witness pounding on his apartment window, screaming for someone to call police. By the time he looked out, he could see the kayak, but could see no sign of Hensley.
Witnesses said Hensley came up at least once after his kayak tipped in the pond, but by the time police finally pulled him out of the water, more than a half hour had passed.

An autopsy Sunday afternoon determined Hensley drowned.
According to his father, Hensley was a good swimmer, but he ended up in the water while fully clothed and wearing boots. To make the situation worse, police said the swans continued to swim at Hensley as he tried to make it to shore.
His two daughters are so young, they have yet to be told their daddy never made it home from work.
His father, Raymond Hensley, said “They’re too young. They just know their father is not here, and they don’t know why. It’s tragic for him to have to spend the last few moments like that. That’s always my worst fear, drowning.”
Anthony Hensley’s wife of four years was too distraught to talk about her loss, so her brother spoke for her.
“He’s my brother-in-law, and I’m going to miss him,” Tony Macri said.
He also spoke of how his sister and nieces are now without a bread-winner, and without a secure future.
“I just want to say it’s very evident that he’s well-loved in the community, it would be great if the community could come together for the family,” he said.
The family now must come to grips with the fact that they have to say goodbye to a 37-year-old father known for his sense of humor, and his devotion to his family.
“He’s going to be remembered as one of the most wonderful fathers in the world. A very good father, a very good husband; there wasn’t a mean bone in his body,” his father said.

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4/15/12 Kayaker missing at Selma Weir, Australia
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/...54d8ad34b0||||



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Kayaker missing at Selma Weir
April 15, 2012: A thirty year old kayaker is missing after being swept over a weir’s edge at around 11am.
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Kayaker missing at Selma Weir



http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/...54d8ad34b0||||



Kayaker missing at Selma Weir
April 15, 2012: A thirty year old kayaker is missing after being swept over a weir’s edge at around 11am.
Date: 15/04/12
Views: 1495


Video by: News

[storminsteve]

I don't mean to sound judgemental here, its a sad thing that he died from the swan chasing after him. If it was me I would wring that bird's neck and eat it over an open fire along with some fresh piping plover. Me or the animal, are you kidding? I am coming home with roasted swan.

[buckethead]

I agree. Very tragic to read about any kayak deaths. But if it was my life or the swan's, or the life of any animal against mind, I would take that life to preserve mine. What says the king of swans on this one, how about it Dark?

[cowherder]

Be careful out there guys!

[hookset]

JFK Kayak rescue 4-26-12
From another site, hope it is ok to post here.
to Jasone for saving this guy!



"Around 10am we drove by a kayak floating around with no one on it.Got closer and spotted the guy floating next to it hanging on. said he was in the water for 30-40 mins. we got him onboard and NYPD boat and heli were out looking for him a few mins after we picked him up.



i was shocked with 4 other boats fishing close by, no one else noticed him in the water before we got there.



unfortunately i already forgot the guys email, so hope he sees this. curious to hear how hes doing.


32inch


nypd towing the yak