Number 8 Tom Hutchinson 52-year-old businessman Tom Hutchinson lost
his life in a devastating kite surfing accident, at a popular holiday beach in the Isle of
Wight. Hutchinson, who reportedly ran a successful sailing business, was experienced in kite
surfing. He owned a home in the Isle of Wight and, in the summer of 2019, Hutchinson and
his family went there on holiday. Hutchinson was out on the water when a violent wind current
took him over 150 feet in the air. The man was then slammed into a rock face, twice,
at high speed. He suffered critical head injuries. Hutchinson was airlifted to a hospital, where
he later passed away, surrounded by his family. What Is It?
Kite surfing, also known as kite boarding, is an extreme sport that combines elements
from other athletic practices, including paragliding, wakeboarding, sailing and windsurfing. While
predominantly known as a watersport, there are variations of kite surfing which are also
adapted to land and snow. The activity involves the use of a power kite, usually consisting
of a leading edge with inflatable bladders, which rises about 66 feet from the surface.
It’s attached via lines to a control bar and a harness. The rider uses the power of
the wind for traction and typically rides on a bidirectional board, similar to a wakeboard.
Kite surfing is among the most convenient and least expensive of watersports. It’s
also often regarded as being the fastest of watersports that don’t rely on motorized
assistance. The combination of high speed and unpredictable wind currents adds an ever-present
element of danger to kite surfing. A number of accidents have been recorded in the past
decades, some of which have had fatal outcomes. Number 7 Accident at Ocean Beach
In September of 2015, a kite surfer was left in critical condition in San Francisco, after
a strong gust of wind carried him from Ocean Beach and onto a nearby highway. The unidentified
man and his girlfriend were setting up his rig when the wind, estimated at 50 mph, swept
him away. It’s believed that he didn’t manage to engage the quick release in time.
He was dragged across a parking lot and into the Great Highway, where the kite surfer was
struck by an oncoming car. The man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening
injuries. Number 6 Logan Gemming
In January of 2019, a New Zealand physical education teacher was killed in a kite surfing
accident, at Tauranga’s Fergusson National Park. According to eyewitnesses, 37-year-old
Logan Gemming was setting up his kite, with the help of a friend. Gemming was given the
go-ahead and the launch went well but a surprising gust of wind changed the kite’s position.
Gemming lost control and fell to the ground, still holding on to the kite. He was dragged
into a wooden pole, at nearly 20 mph, and the high-energy impact caused a fatal aortic
rupture. A kite surfing expert argued that there wasn’t enough space between Gemming
and the edge of a road for him to properly react to losing control. He was downwind from
a grass area, with less than 80 feet of clear space. Gemming’s reflex was to try and regain
his position instead of triggering the rig’s quick release. In September of that year,
Tauranga Boys’ College renamed their hockey turf in honour of their beloved teacher’s
memory. Where Is It Located?
Kite surfing is practiced by over 1.5 million people all over the world. Some of the most
popular locations are coastal spots in Brazil, Spain, Egypt, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Competitive formats include racing, freestyle and wave-riding. At the Rio Olympics, in 2016,
the course-style racing variant of kite surfing was announced as a sport, replacing windsurfing.
Conceptually, the activity can be traced back to Dutch inventor Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise,
in 1977, with designs being further developed in the 1980s and 1990s. Kite surfing was popularized
by surfers, in Hawaii, particularly big-wave legend Laird Hamilton, and gained a wider
number of practitioners by the turn of the century. For some time, kite surfing held
the speed sailing world record, at 55.65 knots or about 65 mph, which is faster than a swordfish
swimming at top speed. The highest kite surfing jump is an estimated 111 feet, which is more
than a 10-story building. Some of the most notable kite-surfing crosses include the Bering
Strait, from Alaska to easternmost Russia and a transatlantic trip from the Canary Islands
to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Another remarkable feat is that of Louis Tapper, who kite surfed
for over 24 days, without a support crew, between Salvador and San Luis, Brazil.
Number 5 Matthew Wing In January of 2019, kite surfer Matthew Wing
missed his destination at Coronation Beach, off the west coast of Australia, and ended
up stranded for the night. A malfunction of his kite led to the man being dragged for
about 30 miles past his intended stopping point. When Wing failed to arrive, his friends
raised the alarm with local authorities and a large rescue operation was swiftly mounted.
After missing the mark, the 48-year-old eventually regained control of his kite and made land
just shy of Horrocks Beach. That night, he tried to walk up to the highway but jagged
cliffs and limited visibility made it extremely difficult. Wing spent the night in the dunes,
half-buried in sand to avoid hypothermia. The next morning he started walking north
along the beach and was found by rescuers. Number 4 Julian Pope
In March of 2015, kite surfing novice Julian Pope was setting up his rig when a sudden
wind swept him off his feet. According to eyewitnesses, the 28-year-old was at no point
in the water but merely getting used to the kite while on the beach. After he got lofted,
the man was slammed into the concrete footpath as his kite got caught in one of the pine
trees on Norfolk Island. Pope suffered critical head and chest injuries that prompted emergency
services to rush him to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Unfortunately, Pope
wouldn’t recover from the extensive damage that he’d sustained in the accident.
How Will It Kill You? Between 2000 and 2003, there were over 100
kite surfing accidents and at least 14 fatalities according to a study by the Kiteboarding Safety
Information Database. The power kite can take the rider to dangerous heights and losing
control can have severe consequences. After being lofted, they may be carried off, dragged,
blown downwind or dashed which can result in them colliding with natural terrain, buildings
or power lines. Accidents may occur if the kite is caught by a strong gust of wind but
also if the rider mismanages the timing and distance of their jumps. With enough height
and speed, even hitting the water at an awkward angle may yield a fatal outcome. In the sport,
a severe accident is often referred to as a “kitemare”. Kite surfing may also take
practitioners far from shore, making it difficult for them to return by swimming, in the event
of an emergency. This leaves them vulnerable to getting caught in a current or drowning
or to potentially deadly encounters with dangerous marine wildlife, like sharks or poisonous
jellyfish. Number 3 Adrien Monnoyeur
While kite surfing off the coast of south-west France, 28-year-old Adrien Monnoyeur suffered
a horrific accident. Even though the weather forecasts had warned of high winds, there
were a number of riders on the water. Monnoyeur was caught in powerful gusts which lifted
him high into the air and carried him inland, at roughly 100 mph. He struck a pier and then
clipped the top of a hotel. Monnoyeur was then swept into the chimney stack of a 7-story
boarding house and struck an additional building before he became detached from the harness
and plummeted 50 feet to his death. Today's topic was inspired by Youkodoll19.
If you have any other topics you'd like to learn about, subscribe & let us know in the
comments section below Number 2 Kevin Chunisingh
Kevin Chunisingh and his wife arrived in Dorset, England, in 2009, for several weeks of kayaking,
cycling and kite surfing. One day during their stay, Chunisingh, who was an experienced kite
surfer, took to the beach to hone his skills. He had everything under control, until a gust
of wind dragged him out of the water. Chunisingh lost control of his kite and crashed head-first
into a parked car. The impact fractured his neck. Chunisingh survived but was left paralyzed
from the chest down and, in the years that followed, lost 95% of his upper-body strength.
In spite of his limited mobility, Chunisingh would find his second wind as an artist and
become a notable painter.
How to Survive? Even though kite surfing can be dangerous,
there are a number of measures to be taken which increase safety and mitigate the risks.
Choose a kite design that comes with advanced quick-release mechanisms and a control bar
that enables you to fully depower. Wear an impact vest as it also doubles as an improved
flotation device. It protects the body but also helps in deep water self-rescue procedures,
which almost all riders encounter at some point. Wear a brightly-colored helmet, a wetsuit,
if the temperature demands it, and carry a hook knife to deal with tangled lines. Always
check the weather forecast and avoid kite surfing near storm fronts, as the winds tend
to be strong and unpredictable. Exercise prudence and adapt your riding style to your experience
level, instead of trying to emulate more skillful riders. Keep proper distance from others in
the water and avoid jumping in the shallows or too close to elements in the environment.
Number 1 Ger Fennelly In the fall of 2020, as Storm Aiden battered
the coast of Ireland, a kite surfer was killed in what was described as a failed jump attempt.
39-year-old Ger Fennelly was taking part in a charity event, for Mental Health Ireland,
at Dublin’s Dollymount Strand. Fennelly was a triathlete with over 14 years of experience
in kite surfing. Unfortunately, the powerful wind created difficult rough riding conditions
and he lost control of the kite during a jump. This reportedly caused a high-speed impact
with the water’s surface. Rescue services arrived to the scene and recovered him from
the water. In spite of their resuscitation attempts, Fennelly was pronounced dead.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather go kitesurfing in stormy weather or live in an igloo for
a week? Let us know in the comments section below!