[ Kill Cords ]

A jet-skier drowned after an accident on the River Wear, an inquest heard.

Michael Scott, from Springwell, Sunderland, died in hospital after he was pulled from the water at South Hylton.

An inquest heard the popular 22-year-old had got into difficulties near Claxheugh Rocks.

Sergeant John Hall, from Northumbria Police, was among emergency services called to the scene on September 20.

Michael was already in an ambulance on his way to Sunderland Royal Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Sgt Hall said: “It quickly appeared that it had not been an organised event. He had been there in the company of some friends riding jet skis and had been for some time that afternoon.

“They were just about to leave the area when he decided to have one last ride.”

For some reason the jet ski stopped and Michael fell into the water

The police Marine Unit examined the jet ski and said it was in working order and had no defects, although it was old.

However, Sgt Hall added that Michael was not wearing a life vest and the jet-ski did not have a “kill cord”, which attaches from the key to the rider and cuts out the engine if it stops suddenly.

Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said a very small amount of alcohol was found in Michael’s body, but this could have been produced naturally after his death.

He also had cuts and grazes on his forehead, nose and knee, but it not known how these were caused.

Coroner Derek Winter said: “It is clear to me that this was the unintended consequence of an act which was entirely accidental and is appropriate for me to record a verdict of accidental death.

“It also seems to me that the tragedy was compounded by the fact that Michael appeared to have bumped his head and this may have impact his ability to swim to shore.”

Speaking after the inquest, his distraught family, including mum Carole, 49, and brother Mark, 26, as well as girlfriend Michelle Eltringham, 20, said they planned to mark what would have been Michael’s 23rd birthday next week with a family meal before some of his friends and his brother would go back to the scene of the tragedy.

Carole, whose husband Joe could not attend the hearing, pleaded with anyone going into the water to stay safe, as Michael took off his life vest before his fatal last ride.

She also paid tribute to those who battled to save her son, saying: “I would also like to thank everyone involved in the rescue from the bottom of my heart.”

Verdict: accidental death

(source)

“Well, carrying on from KY’s nightmare day a few weeks ago, today it was my turn. We launched from Oreston slip at Plymouth with the intention of going up the Yealm and having lunch at the Ship Inn.

First problem of the day, the bloody battery was dead and therefore couldn’t start the engine, no problem i thought i will get the jump leads out start her from my friends RC4.8. It then dawned on me that due to my car breaking down this week they were in the boot that was in the garage some 30 miles away. No problem i will go and buy some, so off im went and came back with yet another set of jump leads. Next problem the leads were not long enough so out came the battery whilst trying to hold the battery and leads on at the same time, some relief when she eventually fired up.

So, we were away, beautiful day, sun shining sea relatively calm this is what winter ribbing is about…..WRONG!!!

Just as we were on the run in to the Yealm at about 30 knots the boat chine walked and next thing i knew, i was flying through the air straight in the water. BUGGER, as i surfaced i noticed my girlfriend about 10 m away with the boat what seemed like some 30m plus away (thank god for kill cords). Both our life jackets automatically inflated which i dont know was a good or bad thing, all i know is i could hardly make progress trying to get to her. Luckily my friend who was playing about and although he didn’t see the incident eventually noticed something wasn’t quite right and was on scene instantly.

We clambered aboard the RC and was eventually repatriated with the SR4. Cold and shaken we headed back into Plymouth flat out as my concern was to get out of the wet clothing as we started to chill rapidly.

Heading back to shore i started the mental reconstruction of what went wrong, it happened all so quick i still dont know what actually caused the boat to catapult us both out, especially as it was bloody calm but it happened. I was so glad that on this occassion i was out with a friend as although not potentially life threatening the water was pretty cold and wouldn’t want to be in it for too long.

Anyway, i am not after sympathy or anything but reiterating the use of kill cords, lifejackets and never to be complacent with the sea or your own ability. I look back on it now and p**s myself laughing but today has taught me that anything can and will happen when you least expect it to.”

(source)

A north-east lifeboat officer has warned powerboat and jetski owners to test their kill cord mechanisms before putting to sea after a potentially deadly runaway jetski incident was avoided on Friday.

Lifeboat volunteers from Sunderland RNLI lifeboat station scrambled into action shortly before 2pm to assist a Personal Water Craft (PWC) rider who had fallen from his craft half a mile north of Roker Pier.

The vessel was spotted by Sunderland coastwatch about half a mile north of Roker Pier.

The rider, a 39-year-old male from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, managed to swim ashore to safety.

Jon Pollock, lifeboat crew at Sunderland RNLI Station said: ‘The rider explained to the coastguard that he had fallen from his ski, but the safety kill cord did not operate correctly. This caused the ski to continue running heading into the open sea.’

After several attempts the lifeboat helmsman skilfully managed to steer the lifeboat close enough to the moving ski to allow a line to be attached and the engine stopped.

Once the ski was checked for safety, a towline was attached to it from the lifeboat.

The unmanned ski was then taken in tow and taken to Sand Point slipway where it was recovered from the water onto the rider’s trailer.

Jon added: ‘This incident highlights the importance of a fully operational kill cord being onboard watercraft. In this case it was being correctly worn, but failed to operate due to a stiff mechanism. The RNLI recommend that before any watercrafts that are equipped with a kill cord are taken to sea, the operator should deliberately operate the kill cord to confirm it is operating correctly.’

(source)

A LIFEBOAT was launched this afternoon after an unmanned jet ski was spotted still under power about half a mile north of Roker Pier, Sunderland.

Volunteers from Sunderland RNLI were alerted after staff at Sunderland Coastwatch reported the riderless machine heading towards the open sea shortly before 2pm.

“The rider explained to the Coastguard that he had fallen from his ski; but the safety kill cord did not operate correctly.
Jon Pollock, Lifeboat Crew at Sunderland RNLI Station

As the Atlantic 85 Inshore lifeboat “Wolseley” was launched, Coastguards arrived at Roker beach and found the rider – a 39-year-old man from Brierley Hill, West Midlands – who had managed to swim ashore.

Jon Pollock, Lifeboat Crew at Sunderland RNLI Station said: “The rider explained to the Coastguard that he had fallen from his ski; but the safety kill cord did not operate correctly.

“This caused the ski to continue running heading into the open sea.” After several attempts the lifeboat Helmsman skilfully managed to steer the lifeboat close enough to the moving jet ski to allow a line to be attached and the engine stopped.

The unmanned jet ski was then taken in tow and taken to Sand Point slipway where it was recovered from the water onto the rider’s trailer.

Mr Pollock said: “This incident highlights the importance of a fully operational kill cord being onboard watercraft. In this case it was being correctly worn, but failed to operate due to a stiff mechanism.

“The RNLI recommend that before any watercrafts which are equipped with a kill cord are taken to sea, the operator should deliberately operate the kill cord to confirm it is operating correctly.”

a registered charity the RNLI relies on voluntary donations and legacies from the public for its income

(source)

Following two life-threatening incidents last week within a span of five days, the Coast Guard is warning mariners of the risk they’re taking when they don’t properly use a vessel’s engine “kill cord.” USCG describes the device as a lanyard, similar to those found on treadmills, designed for one end to attach to the boat and the other end to attach to the operator so that if the person falls overboard, the engine will immediately disable. (more…)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – After two life threatening incidents in Massachusetts waters just within the last six days, the coast guard is warning boaters of the risk they’re taking when they fail to use a vessel’s “engine kill cord” properly. (more…)

This is the moment a boater’s life was put in danger as he fooled about on the Broads.

A shocking two-minute video clip shows a man in an inflatable speedboat weaving around another boat at speed.

The man is then thrown from the dinghy which is left spinning on its own accord with the engine still running.

He then recklessly tries to swim towards the boat, a move which could have cost him a limb or his life.

The Broads Authority has launched an investigation into the incident which is believed to have taken place at the River Waveney, near Oulton Broad, where the speed limit is 5mph.

Today, officials condemned the foolish behavior and reiterated calls for people to be safe on the county’s waterways.

Adrian Vernon, head navigation ranger for the Broads Authority, said: “It was a shocking thing to see. I’ve seen some stupid things in the past but that really is something else.

“He is doing something very dangerous, cutting under the bows of the other boat. If it were me, I would be swimming in the opposite direction to safety, but at one stage he is swimming towards the boat – that propeller would have cost him a limb or his life.”

PC Paul Bassham, from Broads Beat, a team which patrols the 125 miles of rivers during the high season, said: “This is a very silly and stupid thing to do. On this occasion the person has come out laughing, but it could have been very different. From what I have seen on the footage, this person is not wearing a lifejacket and also they have not got a kill cord.”

All modern outboard boats come with a “kill cord” or lanyard which attaches to the passenger and immediately cuts the engine if they topple overboard.

Mr Vernon added: “We would urge everyone on the water to always wear a lifejacket and if you have got an outboard particularly, the kill cord must be worn exactly for that reason.

“I don’t know if the man had been drinking but drinking and helming do not go together.”

The message comes just weeks after another video sequence dubbed Summer of Madness on the Broads was posted on YouTube.

In the clip, holidaymakers on two cruisers at Horning suddenly find their peace shattered, and their crafts rocking, when another boat squeezes between them at a speed far exceeding the regulation 4mph for the stretch.

Elsewhere, the rescue boat and two fire engines were called to help two men who fell into the River Yare, near Kirby Bedon, at the end of last month after their canoe overturned. It was believed the men had been drinking.

A spokesman from Yarmouth coastguard, which has the remit to cover all of the Broads, urged people not to take “unnecessary risks”.

He said: “We do get called to incidents where people are being stupid on the water. We would urge people to wear lifejackets and be aware of what they are doing. It’s common sense really.”

Paul Greasley, managing director of Norfolk Broads Direct, which hires out boats, said: “We tell all our customers to be careful, wear the buoyancy jackets which are freely available, to show respect for others, keep to the speed limits and if they see an incident like that to report it.”

Over the past two years, there have been no boating related deaths on the Broads but of 11 injuries needing hospital treatment last season six were caused when people were stepping on and off boats.

Anyone with more information about the incident is asked to call the Broads Authority on 01603 610734.

A RUNAWAY Jet Ski caused mayhem in the sea off Herne Bay on Sunday.

The fun boat leapt out of the hands of its rider as he tried to fire it up.

It careered off and boats had to dodge the ghost craft, with it amazingly ending up near Southend. (more…)

Visitors to a boat show have told a court how they attempted to rescue a man struck by the propeller of a speeding boat.

Southampton Crown Court has heard how Tristan Douglas-Johnson died after he was hit by the rigid inflatable boat (Rib) at the Southampton International boat show. (more…)

Narrative

As a 4.5m RIB with three teenage occupants approached the beach to pick up a wakeboard, it passed a line of markers indicating the boat was entering an area in which a 4 knot speed limit applied. The driver reduced speed to about half throttle, and commenced a slow left-hand turn. During the turn, the console on which the driver was sitting, and to which the steering wheel was mounted, detached from the deck. The driver was unable to maintain his balance, and fell over the boat’s port side and into the sea.

The RIB immediately turned sharply to starboard, and a passenger who had been sitting on the rubber tube to the driver’s left was thrown into the water. He was immediately struck by the RIB’s rotating propeller. A few seconds later, the remaining passenger panicked, and jumped out of the boat, leaving the now unmanned RIB to circle in a clockwise direction, at a speed of between 10 knots and 15 knots. While circling, the RIB passed sufficiently close to the driver, who was assisting the injured passenger, for its propeller to rip his fleece top. None of the RIB’s occupants were wearing buoyancy aids. (more…)