Kayaker makes it to safety
The St. John's Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) responded to Quidi Vidi Lake just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday following reports of an overturned boat on the lake. It was determined a kayaker had overturned and swam back to shore. The 35-year-old male was ass
- Published on June 16th, 2010
- Published on July 1st, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Tony
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:32:01
The guy tipped over his kayak in a lake , wearing what looks like drysuit and swam to shore. Does not look like much of an emergency but I guess onlookers have no way of knowing what he was wearing. Regardless I think its crazy to suggest that he should pay for a rescue that he likely did not need.
http://www.kayaktherock.com -
- Robert
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:30:51
Patricia Churchill - is it a city bylaw that residents can only use Quidi Vidi with the regatta committee's blessing? If so, he's liable for, at worst, a ticket. He didn't ask to be rescued so why would he be liable for costs as Joanne suggested?
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- Philosopher
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:29:56
Don't mind Joanne and Patricia, they don't know what they are talking about.
This young man was just out for some much encouraged exercise and had a mishap.
It happens people. Lucky he was able to swim ashore! -
- Mike
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:28:10
Hey Joanne, heres something to think about. Members of the SJRFD get paid if they are sitting back at the firehouse watching tv, on the scene of an emergency or at a training exercise. Either way they were getting paid. That is one of the costs of having a fire department on call 24 hours a day. The only extra cost associated with this Rescue was the few dollars for the fuel burned in the trucks to get there. Chances are they would have been going down to Dominion to pick up the groceries for the evenings supper anyways so I dont see any extra costs.
What if it was you in the kayak on a nice day and it overturned and you were not able to get back in it and swam to shore? Maybe I would have been a concerned citizen and called for help because there was a potential victim of a boating accident. Would you like it if a fireman came and knocked on your door asking for $8.25 for fuel costs for a non-rescue that you didnt ask for? -
- Patricia
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:26:37
I believe some of you might be misinformed. This person was a kayaker not a rower in the Regatta. Note that the pond has a flag system. Boats do NOT go out if the flag is red. It was red yesterday. You can find all the necessary information on the Royal St. John's Regatta page. This person should have checked with the boathouse before proceeding on the pond.
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- darls
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:26:30
stupid men do stupid things
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- Jerome
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:24:11
Don't be silly Joanne. He was properly equipped. He flipped and swam to shore. The only real emergency for this guy was how to get his craft back. Should the rowers practicing for the regetta pay for a rescue? I was down by the lake supper time yesterday - was not rough conditions.
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- John
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:22:41
There are lots of people who buy kayaks that don't know what they are doing. Then they get themselves in the news and give prudent kayakers a bad name. The first thing they should do after buying a kayak is get training from a Paddle Canada certified instructor. And join Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador to meet people to paddle with; paddling alone is a no-no.
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- Sean
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:21:49
Please don't equate a kayak with a racing scull. Kayaks are made to be out in rough/windy conditions. Kayakers also practice and perform self rescues to get out of situations like this. I highly doubt this guy was in as much trouble as people are making out!!
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- Darren
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:21:44
pay a fee to rescue himself? Is he going to be taxed? lol Good idea Joanne... His kayak eventually would have floated to shore anyways (unless there was some damage of some sort). Someone, who meant well, jumped the gun.
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- Joanne
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:19:09
This person should be made to pay for the rescue. How stupid to go out on the Lake in such extremely high winds and rough water.
He is lucky to be alive. Hope this, at least, teaches him a lesson in safety. -
- Amy
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:14:04
Maybe he was training for something that would require paddling in something rougher than a ripple!
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- Robert
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:10:29
Why ahould he 'have to pay for the rescue' as Joanne suggests? He didn't call for assistance - some well meaning onlooker did. the kayaker made it to shore on his own - no assistance required.
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- Tony
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:20:45
The guy tipped over his kayak in a lake , wearing what looks like drysuit and swam to shore. Does not look like much of an emergency but I guess onlookers have no way of knowing what he was wearing. Regardless I think its crazy to suggest that he should pay for a rescue that he likely did not need.
http://www.kayaktherock.com -
- Robert
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:18:58
Patricia Churchill - is it a city bylaw that residents can only use Quidi Vidi with the regatta committee's blessing? If so, he's liable for, at worst, a ticket. He didn't ask to be rescued so why would he be liable for costs as Joanne suggested?
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- Philosopher
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:17:28
Don't mind Joanne and Patricia, they don't know what they are talking about.
This young man was just out for some much encouraged exercise and had a mishap.
It happens people. Lucky he was able to swim ashore! -
- Mike
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:16:04
Hey Joanne, heres something to think about. Members of the SJRFD get paid if they are sitting back at the firehouse watching tv, on the scene of an emergency or at a training exercise. Either way they were getting paid. That is one of the costs of having a fire department on call 24 hours a day. The only extra cost associated with this Rescue was the few dollars for the fuel burned in the trucks to get there. Chances are they would have been going down to Dominion to pick up the groceries for the evenings supper anyways so I dont see any extra costs.
What if it was you in the kayak on a nice day and it overturned and you were not able to get back in it and swam to shore? Maybe I would have been a concerned citizen and called for help because there was a potential victim of a boating accident. Would you like it if a fireman came and knocked on your door asking for $8.25 for fuel costs for a non-rescue that you didnt ask for? -
- Patricia
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:13:41
I believe some of you might be misinformed. This person was a kayaker not a rower in the Regatta. Note that the pond has a flag system. Boats do NOT go out if the flag is red. It was red yesterday. You can find all the necessary information on the Royal St. John's Regatta page. This person should have checked with the boathouse before proceeding on the pond.
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- darls
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:13:28
stupid men do stupid things
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- Jerome
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:09:38
Don't be silly Joanne. He was properly equipped. He flipped and swam to shore. The only real emergency for this guy was how to get his craft back. Should the rowers practicing for the regetta pay for a rescue? I was down by the lake supper time yesterday - was not rough conditions.
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- John
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:07:11
There are lots of people who buy kayaks that don't know what they are doing. Then they get themselves in the news and give prudent kayakers a bad name. The first thing they should do after buying a kayak is get training from a Paddle Canada certified instructor. And join Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador to meet people to paddle with; paddling alone is a no-no.
-
- Sean
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:05:42
Please don't equate a kayak with a racing scull. Kayaks are made to be out in rough/windy conditions. Kayakers also practice and perform self rescues to get out of situations like this. I highly doubt this guy was in as much trouble as people are making out!!
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- Darren
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:05:33
pay a fee to rescue himself? Is he going to be taxed? lol Good idea Joanne... His kayak eventually would have floated to shore anyways (unless there was some damage of some sort). Someone, who meant well, jumped the gun.
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- Joanne
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:00:55
This person should be made to pay for the rescue. How stupid to go out on the Lake in such extremely high winds and rough water.
He is lucky to be alive. Hope this, at least, teaches him a lesson in safety. -
- Amy
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:52:44
Maybe he was training for something that would require paddling in something rougher than a ripple!
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- Robert
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:46:31
Why ahould he 'have to pay for the rescue' as Joanne suggests? He didn't call for assistance - some well meaning onlooker did. the kayaker made it to shore on his own - no assistance required.
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