near loss of life, kiter, costa rica

wiseguy2 · Since 22 Feb 2009 89 Posts

Dear all,
I don't normally post much on this forum but I feel compelled to report the following...

I am in Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica, kiting with friends. I am from Portland.

Yesterday, 1/4, as usual the wind was consistent and many of us were out on the water. Around 4pm, the wind started to drop and most of us left the water and headed to shore. A storm was approaching and a dark rain could be seen about 1 mile away. By the time I reached shore the rain had started.

Two kiters remained on the water and one was trying to relaunch his kite in light wind.

A few minutes later, I saw that kite. way off in the distance, in a terrible spiral, looping endlessly for hundreds of meters. Kiters began running down the beach while the kite and rider were being dragged through the water.

By the time the first rescurere arrived, the kiter had been dragged up onto the next beach (around a cove). He was now about a mile from where his kite first went down in the light wind.

The second rescuerer was a lifeguard who immediately ascertained that the kiter was not breathing, his face was blue, and had no pulse. The lifeguard perfomred CPR for about 15 minutes he said. At some point, the victim began breathing and gained some level of consiousceness. An ambulance was called immediately by a third rescurer who ran to the closet hotel. After about 40 minutes from the onset of the situation, the ambulance arrived (that is my estimate and could be off by + - 15 minutes).

An American EMT/Kite instructor also arrived on the scene and guided the local Emergency responders and hospital staff in some of their efforts.

The patient was taken first to the local hospital, then to the hospital in Liberia, then air lifted to Miami this morning. We are told that he is speaking in complete sentences and remembers things such as his birthday. He probably has some broken ribs from the accident as well as from the CPR. He has contusions on his chest and wrist (where a line was wrapped).

The consensus is that the kiter had started a self-rescue in light wind and was caught in high winds when the storm kicked in.

He had ejected his chicken loop and his leash. The leash was found twisted around his harness hook and probably was what had dragged him indefinetely. The kite ended up in a tree and what was stopped the drag.

One line was broken which probably caused the unending spiral that so many of us witnessed from afar.

Ironically, the spiral may have also saved his life as it caused him to get dragged all the way to the shore where the runners found him - unconscious, not breathing, and with a mouth full of sand. Otherwise he would have drowned in the water.

Reminders:
Practice self rescue,
Watch for weather changes
Wear a helmet
etc, etc, etc.

Many of us are in various stages of denial, rationalization, and shock. For me, I am tempted to get right back on the water one moment and give up the (EXTREME) sport the next.

The victim is from San Francisco area and is under the care of his friends one of whom took the life flight to Miami.

-Mark

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Scary! Thanks for the post and the reminder! For me, I have had my most scary moments in light moments with shit wrapping where it shouldn't. Now I get a visual that I am clear of all lines and can let go at any moment and keep my hook knife in my mouth when I self-rescue. Knowing me, I will swallow it and choke on it.

Paul

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Scary story of survival and a reminder that there are a multitude of deadly scenarios with kiting. This is not a sport for the non-calculating, unthinking types. Once the kite is in the air, or ready to go up, treat it like a loaded gun and know where the safety is and how to use all of its variations.

Hoping for a good recovery for the dude that lived thru the looping and dragging...

Shocked

Pepi · Wed Jan 04, 12 7:01 pm

Just wanting to know if you knew the name of the kiter.

We have a buddy of ours down there by the name of Dave Grove. Just checking in to make sure that this was not him.

Thanks
Pepi

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

This is good news as he is alive. Good for him and I hope a full recovery in his future.
Thanks for reminding people to know the self rescue and etc etc.
I would like to add this. I completed IKO instructors course and we practiced these procedures and teach them. A very important part we learned and would maybe have helped here Is knowing how to quick release your harness if something like this happens. Lines and leashes do hang up on harness hooks and once tight unable to remove them , your going for what could be the last ride of your life.
Practice this procedure! Some harness's do not have a quick way out. There is a way out though and you need to know how.I had not thought of releasing the harness prior to my training as I thought the leash release was the final safety and no more needed.
Wrong!!! The harness release ( yours ) needs to be practiced as well.

Best wishes for a quick and full recovery
JackZ

Nak · Wed Jan 04, 12 7:46 pm

I hope we hear about his full recovery soon. Best wishes to the kiter & his friends and family.

unbob · Since 31 Aug 2008 260 Posts 'da Gorge/LaV Obsessed

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Pepi I don't believe it's Dave. He is in playa copal. I catch up with him most every day and he had no mention. I know he tore his seven meter while self landing so for him that is a tragedy. I will keep you posted. Blake

Pepi , he just posted on Crackbook four hours ago that all was well.

Pepi · Wed Jan 04, 12 9:39 pm

Chipotle · Since 26 Mar 2011 70 Posts

my good friend Matt Y. from Mountain View is down there right now. I just emailed him but am also wondering if anyone else has any information on this kiter. I was reading this post thinking about him and when I noticed the kiter was from the Bay Area my heart stopped. I hope he is safe. Thanks for any information. Kyle

runaway · Since 31 Aug 2010 72 Posts Anchorage

just asking here... I have had a few "events" myself and now try to either get about 6 wraps of my 5th line (North) as quick as possible before something bad happens. Also if you can get 5 about 3 meters of a steering lined pulled in on most any kite it should not fly again... I am not saying this is the best practice but has worked for me.... any other thoughts? after reading this I am certainly getting a line cutter back on my body.

I had kited 5 days there and left the Bay that morning, I will say it is a gusty place and bit challenging place to kite and certainly if you learn there you will hopefully know how to fly a kite. However in defense of schools there, it is not much worse than HR for gust.

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

playacopal · Since 15 Sep 2008 30 Posts

Just spoke with the kiter...he is doing well...doctors expect full recovery..he doesn't remember much of the accident and has many questions about what may have caused the accident. His version and what witnesses saw are very different. But the most important point is that he is OK thanks to the rapid and correct treatment he received. Doctors say that the recuers not only b' saved his life but kept him'from having brain damage. Proper training and practice'of that training is key!

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

So glad to hear that he's recovering well and a full recovery is expected. Great news!

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Read up on "gust fronts".

If you see dark clouds and a wall of rain off in the distance (or virga) moving toward you, the likelihood that you're going to get blasted with wind 2-3x whatever preceded the lull is pretty good.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jan 12, 12 9:33 am

Glad to hear he is ok. This serves as a reminder that everyone, and I mean everyone should be carrying a double bladded hook knife!!

fstdude · Since 16 Feb 2010 89 Posts

Last fall I cut a brand new set of lines in an emergency situation.
I cut all except one and used it to get to the kite and self rescue. Once at the kite I cut them again to get rid of entanglements. I have a vest pocket on my flotation device that has the knife attached to a thin bungie line. Without the bungie you will drop the knife in a crisis.
Without cutting lines in many emergency situations, it is likely you will continue to entangle yourself even if you release everything attached to your body. Even my Go Pro mouting on the helmet snags lines.