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Man dead kite surfing 20 km north Geraldton

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Created by snorton > 9 months ago, 5 Feb 2012
snorton
WA, 87 posts
5 Feb 2012 8:18PM
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Sorry to hear it
Just heard on the news - no details yet
I'm guessing Coronations


Saffer
VIC, 4501 posts
5 Feb 2012 11:28PM
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Very sad. Condolences to the family :(

* Kite surfer drowns

A MAN has drowned off the coast of Geraldton this afternoon.

The man was kite surfing about 4.30pm when he drowned about 30km north of Geraldton.

"It appears that a kite surfer has drowned," Inspector Neil Blair said.

"At this stage all we know is that it's a male."

Police are at the scene investigating.

www.news.com.au/uncategorized/finance/%capi_slug%/finance

sebol
WA, 753 posts
5 Feb 2012 11:08PM
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Sad news, our thoughts are with the family

gazza
WA, 647 posts
5 Feb 2012 11:18PM
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Very,very sad!!!!
My thought to his family and friends.

dirtyharry
WA, 444 posts
6 Feb 2012 7:39AM
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RIP.

Anyone know anything more? Local or tourist?

NoBS
WA, 908 posts
6 Feb 2012 8:38AM
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dirtyharry said...

RIP.

Anyone know anything more? Local or tourist?



all thats available is that he was 70

BennyB12
QLD, 918 posts
6 Feb 2012 10:58AM
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kiting at 70...what a hellman...respect and sympathies to his closest..

gezza1
WA, 64 posts
6 Feb 2012 9:45AM
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Hey yeah I was there when it happened. We were kiting at South Corro all day yesterday. Two kiters came through heading up wind towards Okagee.

Shortly after I got back to the beach we saw one of the kites looping violently about 1km south.
The kite had an awful lot of drag to it. We saw his mate head into the beach and land his kite.

A group of four of us took two 4 wheel drives south along the sand track to where the kites had come in. When we got there two people where administering CPR which proved un-successful. The guy had his kite lines wrapped around his neck.

From what we gather he fell on a wave and became entangled in his lines.
Was a tragic end to the day.

WAKSA
WA, 813 posts
6 Feb 2012 10:11AM
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On behalf of the WA kiting community, WAKSA would like to express our shock and sadness at this tragic situation.

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

poor relative
WA, 9106 posts
6 Feb 2012 10:20AM
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Such a terrible accident and shocking loss.

Condolences to bothe family and friends.

dbabicwa
WA, 809 posts
6 Feb 2012 10:22AM
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Very sad day. My condolences.

gspotxtreme
WA, 95 posts
6 Feb 2012 11:37AM
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Shocking, sad news. Heart felt condolences to family and friends.

au_rick
WA, 752 posts
6 Feb 2012 11:51AM
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gezza1 said...

Hey yeah I was there when it happened. We were kiting at South Corro all day yesterday. Two kiters came through heading up wind towards Okagee.

Shortly after I got back to the beach we saw one of the kites looping violently about 1km south.
The kite had an awful lot of drag to it. We saw his mate head into the beach and land his kite.

A group of four of us took two 4 wheel drives south along the sand track to where the kites had come in. When we got there two people where administering CPR which proved un-successful. The guy had his kite lines wrapped around his neck.

From what we gather he fell on a wave and became entangled in his lines.
Was a tragic end to the day.


Sounds like with you guys on hand he had every chance of survival, but ultimately his time was up.

RIP, and condolences to his friends and family.

pumpnjump
WA, 265 posts
6 Feb 2012 12:25PM
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Thanks from Mikes family for the assistance given. At this time it is difficult to give any sound explanation, Pete spoke with Mike on the water a couple of minutes prior to CPR on the beach, he was fine at that time, Mike was a very confident waterman, extremely fit and used to the conditions, he has travelled out from the UK many times enjoying every moment he got on the water here. Having been a friend of Mikes for over 30 years windsurfing and kiting it is a great shock and difficult to take in, if any further information comes out that we may learn from, then I will post in a few days, for now though we shall be giving support to Mikes family.

Spotx
WA, 24 posts
6 Feb 2012 12:26PM
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Heart felt condolences to family and friends.

It was such a beautiful day. It was on of the best windsurfing day of the year at Okajee.

Such a sad end to such a classic day.


dusta
WA, 2940 posts
6 Feb 2012 12:32PM
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i prefer to look at it that he died doing something he loved and cherished rather than having his life cut short by cancer, stabbed or killed by a drink driver .



thoughts are with the family .

Rob S
VIC, 391 posts
6 Feb 2012 3:45PM
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Tragic to hear of this very sad accident but also valuable to hear about it and to consider what we might do in these circumstances. It can happen to anyone I guess. Do you carry a line cutter. Would I be able to use it effectively in this situation.

Technologic
WA, 17 posts
6 Feb 2012 1:25PM
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What a tragedy. Even if he died doing what he loved it's still an unnecessary death. I'm also interested to hear if there's anything that could have been done to avoid what happened such as carrying a knife or certain conditions/maneuvres/tricks to avoid.

EB
SA, 492 posts
6 Feb 2012 4:13PM
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Condolences to Mike's family and friends.Will be remembered as being younger than his years with the enthusiasm of someone half his age.

Saffer
VIC, 4501 posts
6 Feb 2012 5:38PM
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pumpnjump said...

Thanks from Mikes family for the assistance given. At this time it is difficult to give any sound explanation, Pete spoke with Mike on the water a couple of minutes prior to CPR on the beach, he was fine at that time, Mike was a very confident waterman, extremely fit and used to the conditions, he has travelled out from the UK many times enjoying every moment he got on the water here. Having been a friend of Mikes for over 30 years windsurfing and kiting it is a great shock and difficult to take in, if any further information comes out that we may learn from, then I will post in a few days, for now though we shall be giving support to Mikes family.


To be honest, I don't think his skill, age or fitness had anything to do with it. Based on the info provided, I'm guessing it was just bad luck. I got wrapped up in my lines in the waves about 8 years back and the only thing that saved me was my kite hitting land and a fisherman jumping on it bursting my leading edge. Its the nature of the sport and unfortunately sometimes these things just happen. There is not a whole lot you can do in those circumstances and if the lines wrapped around his neck, he wouldn't have had much time to react.

I guess the only thing we can take from this is that he died doing something he loved.

kyteryder
NSW, 692 posts
6 Feb 2012 6:10PM
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My condolences from the East. Best wishes to his family.

Sad day for kiting

gruezi
WA, 3464 posts
6 Feb 2012 4:05PM
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Sad event, condolences to his family and friends.

Nick

Dave Whettingsteel
WA, 1397 posts
6 Feb 2012 5:24PM
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Very sad accident... Saw the Ambo and police screaming to corro and wondered what had happened. Condolences to his family and friends.

Dave

austin
671 posts
6 Feb 2012 5:41PM
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poor guy, even with 30years on the water the worst can happen to the best. bit of a wake up call for everybody especially knowing the coast so well. lets hope heaven is a half pipe or peaking barrell.

zoefruitcake
1 posts
6 Feb 2012 6:10PM
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Hello all,

I'm Mike's daughter, and I've registered on here as I'd like to thank you all for your wishes.
Being so far away in England, it means a lot to read any tiny bit of information about what has happened. It's been a terrible shock, but it is true to say that I'm sure anyone would rather go doing something they loved passionately.
I would also add that he was a year away from being 70, he had just had his 69th birthday last Tuesday.

Zoe

shred
WA, 63 posts
6 Feb 2012 6:23PM
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Kitesurfing at 69...wish I'd met Mike, he sounds like a legend to me. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends.

dave......
WA, 2119 posts
6 Feb 2012 6:48PM
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To Zoe and all your family and friends,

May you all remember your dad, relative and good bloke for what he was, and still is in your hearts and minds. Shocking news, as Im sheading a tear also. As Juddy said all our thoughts are with everyone who Mike lighted up their lives with..

csjena
VIC, 249 posts
6 Feb 2012 10:17PM
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Rest in Peace Mate!
I take my hat! Kiting with 69!
Zoe, be proud and sorry for your loss.
cs

the gibbo
WA, 776 posts
6 Feb 2012 7:41PM
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The community is saddened, be proud Zoe and family all our love.

jas73
QLD, 796 posts
6 Feb 2012 9:48PM
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From myself and i am am sure everyone in the Brisbane kite surfing community. Our condolences go out to your family and friends and anyone who has been directly affected by this tragedy. It makes you realize the sport your in is pretty extreme and for someone your age to be enjoying it as you have is a stoke. RIP mate...

easto
116 posts
6 Feb 2012 8:11PM
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Hi Zoe , family and friends...you are so right to say he died doing something he loved and i'm sure he's super proud of you saying that. And what an amazing place to send him off but in WA. Your Dad is a LEGEND for enjoying the waves at that age and you and your family should be so proud of him and his talent. Make sure he takes a kite and board to heaven cos i'm sure he will continue to carve the clouds up there ! Cherish the good memories Zoe and family .

ps-i wouldreally love a photo of your DAD on the waves to hang up on my wall so whenever you get a chance email me mate . [email protected]



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"Man dead kite surfing 20 km north Geraldton" started by snorton