That had to hurt!

[Mike Edmonston]

WOW, this had to friggin hurt!

Maybe, just maybe he shouldn't be kite surfing in a tropical storm?? :smt102

http://cbs4.com/video/?id=60554@wfor.dayport.com&f=flmih

[SLIM]

yup looks like it did to me. Just Darwin at work is all.

SLIM

[JahJahwarrior]

The guy could benefit from a simple nitrox class. He obviously doesn't understand the concept of "best mix" at all!

[jimdiverman]

They said his harness had releases, but he didn't use them. Just goes to show you in an emergency that requires fast thinking, its muscle memory that wins out. I hope he makes it, and if he does, I also hope he practices using the release system on his harness.

[DogDiver]

Here's another one. As we say in the ER "You can't fix stupid"

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080820/NEWS01/808200363

[Slüdge]

They said his harness had releases, but he didn't use them.

I'm a beginner at kitesurfing. My problem has never been too much wind, but not enough. I once went to Florida for a weekend and had enough wind to keep the kite in the air a grand total of an hour.

After watching that video I "did some studying on it." I'm going to start doing something like a cave diver's S-drill every time I go to the beach. As Jim says, the muscle memory has to be there.

[FW]

As high as he was, and over land, I am not sure releasing would have been any better.

[Squirrel Girl]

As high as he was, and over land, I am not sure releasing would have been any better.
I think the concept was to have him release for that fraction of a second that he was dragging across the ground (ouch)--if he could have done so. Or during the microseconds when he was lifting off the ground after the dragging. Probably much easier said than done.

[fitnessdiver]

Thanks for the link Mike!

I had heard about this today when I was at work. Didn't figure I'd end up checking out the footage.

Looks like Darwin to me!!

[Scubastud16]

The guy was in critical condition last I heard.

[jj1987]

The guy was in critical condition last I heard.
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=7046

[chimie007]

I think the concept was to have him release for that fraction of a second that he was dragging across the ground (ouch)--if he could have done so. Or during the microseconds when he was lifting off the ground after the dragging. Probably much easier said than done.

At that point, he is trying to put the kite back in the neutral zone thinking that he still has things under control. Dragging for a few feet isn't a huge deal.

Pretty stupid. A guy died the same way in Miami a few years ago. Got dragged over land and hit a something. In the water it's pretty safe but on land there is little room for error.

[Chunky]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/20/kite.surfer/index.html

He's now in serious condition. They have a nice list of injuries he sustained here too...

Martin.

[jimdiverman]

As high as he was, and over land, I am not sure releasing would have been any better.

Well, his first mistake was being out there in those conditions to begin with. He should have "thumbed" it when he had the chance.