A tragic reminder to wear a PDF. My heart is breaking for the family and canoeing partner.

WTIP Article

I am sitting on Gillis lake right now. Got to my camp late yesterday afternoon. Was setting up camp and heard a float plane starting up in the bay down near Fern lake portage. The plane came into Gillis lake turned around and took off, heading to the west down that same bay toward fern lake. It had a canoe strapped onto it, and I was wondering what was going on. return two more times and took off and took another canoe out and then a helicopter came in late in the early evening and drop the big basket off into the woods back there near that portage in Bay. I had no idea what was going on thought maybe it was a medical emergency. We got the news this morning. There was a death. I’m taking a zero day here today and can look over the bay where it happened. You gotta be careful out here. My condolences to the family it’s an awful thing to happen. You gotta wear those lifejackets. I hope the other paddler who swam to shore and the family of the 18-year-old find peace in this somehow. It’s sort of put a pall on my day as I sit here looking across the Gillis Lake.

It is so very tragic and so preventable!

Can't imagine going through that. My condolences to the family and friend.

Shug - Are you using a cell phone on Gillis? What service do you have, if you are getting reception? Thanks.

Tom

AT&T.
Get one to two bars on Snipe, Tuscarora and here.

Was anyone able to gain any further info on this? I just find it very strange that a (presumed) eighteen-year-old capsizes a canoe and doesn't at least re-surface.

I think there is more to learn from this (and similar stories) than to just wear your life vest (a point with which I would agree).

On a separate note, if you Google "Haulover Inlet" you'll be directed to videos of recreational vessels attempting to either head out to sea or return as the tide and waves make the event rather treacherous. I am astounded at the number passengers - particularly kids - that are not wearing live vests. It is jaw-dropping.

Sad stuff.

Argo: "Was anyone able to gain any further info on this? I just find it very strange that a (presumed) eighteen-year-old capsizes a canoe and doesn't at least re-surface. "

That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't

I was thinking it was probably a sudden suprise capsize, cold shock inhale, and that's it . . .

All speculation until the report comes out. But another thing to think about is footwear. If the victim was wearing heavy hunting type boots, those act like anchors.

So sad. We should all be reminded to wear a PFD, even in calm waters.

This is very sad news.

Canoearoo: "

Argo: "Was anyone able to gain any further info on this? I just find it very strange that a (presumed) eighteen-year-old capsizes a canoe and doesn't at least re-surface. "

That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't


"

I agree the the attendant PFD message with these stories is necessary. However, it glosses over other valuable information that I believe needs to be illuminated - Airmorse's comment about boots for example.

I'm still struck by how this happens. Canoes generally do not capsize catastrophically. It tends to be a slow motion event where the paddlers are trying to right the canoe as it takes on water - giving the paddlers time to prepare for the worst. So although capsizing is, by definition, an uncontrolled event, by the time your head enters the water it should not be a "sudden" occurrence. It is surprising that a great swimmer was befallen by this. I know you didn't go into more detail and neither did the article.

Both are victims of a drowning that could have been prevented by wearing their PFDs and that can be the final statement on the post mortem. But I'm curious about the rest of the report as I'm sure there are other clues about how to avoid these tragedies.

Gillis is a deep cold lake. Even end of June that cold water can get ya by surprise... so sad...

a very sad reminder , 2nd or 3rd death this year :( Prayers to the family

Argo: "

Canoearoo: "

Argo: "Was anyone able to gain an



"

I'm still struck by how this happens. Canoes generally do not capsize catastrophically. It tends to be a slow motion event where the paddlers are trying to right the canoe as it takes on water -."

Mmmm. Not really. I think you are envisioning how a canoe dumps. Canoes tipping is often like a car accident. You are in the water before you know what happened.

I dumped on a warm sunny day once in a tiny little rapids going upstream. The bow of my canoe caught a wave, turned the canoe sideways and I was out before I knew what happened. I had my PFD on and my hair never got wet. The PFD probably saved my life.

Tom

When I was a young man, I too ran the whitewater rivers and mountain lakes without a PDF. Entering my golden years, I almost never take it off. Life is delicate and such an unforgiving teacher.

Canoearoo: "

That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't


"

Though a big proponent of PFD's as someone that was a life guard and taught swimming for years I must point out that nearly everyone floats- it takes a level of leanness and fitness that is rare to possess negative buoyancy (two I've come across in my history of teaching and guarding) .

boonie: "I was thinking it was probably a sudden suprise capsize, cold shock inhale, and that's it . . . "

Exactly! People underestimate this involuntary response by the body when it hits cold water. They think being a capable swimmer is enough.

I feel so sorry for his family and travel buddies. That would be very traumatic.

Banksiana: "

Canoearoo: "


That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't



"

Though a big proponent of PFD's as someone that was a life guard and taught swimming for years I must point out that nearly everyone floats- it takes a level of leanness and fitness that is rare to possess negative buoyancy (two I've come across in my history of teaching and guarding) ."

No doubt most will float for a time. It's the response to the water that can send some to swallow water which = water in the lungs= death. Practicing this -- (myself a D1 swimmer diving into Cold water for 1000's of practices) does alleviate this some-- but never UNDER ESTIMATE the almost certain shock of water (50 times the heat capacity of air) to WRECK you. Many times I dove into what I was expecting and KNEW from countless practices -- only to have that GAG reflex. That 50 times deal is the real thing. 78F water (MAX- for heat exhaustion) is competition regs for Elite swimming events --- 78F water is COLD> 72F ( and lower) is BRUTAL coming from usual ambient air temp.
IT will catch you off guard even if your prepared. Been there and done it. RESPECT WATER no matter your experience!!!!

I just saw on the Duluth news tonight that his body has been recovered. I will try to find a link. Very, very sad.

Banksiana: "

Canoearoo: "


That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't



"

Though a big proponent of PFD's as someone that was a life guard and taught swimming for years I must point out that nearly everyone floats- it takes a level of leanness and fitness that is rare to possess negative buoyancy (two I've come across in my history of teaching and guarding) ."

I can only speak for myself, but I sink like a stone as soon as I'm in the water. My dad was the same way.

Watch the downloads on this webpage

Link to teen drowning on Gillis Lake

Argo: "

I'm still struck by how this happens. Canoes generally do not capsize catastrophically. It tends to be a slow motion event where the paddlers are trying to right the canoe as it takes on water - giving the paddlers time to prepare for the worst. So although capsizing is, by definition, an uncontrolled event, by the time your head enters the water it should not be a "sudden" occurrence. It is surprising that a great swimmer was befallen by this. I know you didn't go into more detail and neither did the article.
"

I capsized once. My dad was in the stern and decided it was a good idea to stand up. The canoe jerked and next thing I knew, I was in the lake. The canoe didn't even fully capsize, it just tipped enough to dump the both of us.

It can and does happen fast. There are some situations where it can be slow, but for me, I was practically thrown in the water. I never even knew what he was doing until he explained what happened after the fact.

Banksiana: "

Canoearoo: "


That's how my neighbor's son drowned. He was on the swim team and was a great swimmer. All it takes in one accidental inhale of water and your done. Life jackets float, you don't



"

Though a big proponent of PFD's as someone that was a life guard and taught swimming for years I must point out that nearly everyone floats- it takes a level of leanness and fitness that is rare to possess negative buoyancy (two I've come across in my history of teaching and guarding) ."

People don't float enough to breathe; keeping their heads up requires skill. Here is a link to the "Drowning doesn't look like drowning" video Even if you have swimming skills, once your lungs are full of water, you don't float enough to save your life.

Came here looking for info after watching Shug's video. Tragic stuff.

So sad

A1t2o: "

Argo: "

I'm still struck by how this happens. Canoes generally do not capsize catastrophically. It tends to be a slow motion event where the paddlers are trying to right the canoe as it takes on water - giving the paddlers time to prepare for the worst. So although capsizing is, by definition, an uncontrolled event, by the time your head enters the water it should not be a "sudden" occurrence. It is surprising that a great swimmer was befallen by this. I know you didn't go into more detail and neither did the article.
"

I capsized once. My dad was in the stern and decided it was a good idea to stand up. The canoe jerked and next thing I knew, I was in the lake. The canoe didn't even fully capsize, it just tipped enough to dump the both of us.


It can and does happen fast. There are some situations where it can be slow, but for me, I was practically thrown in the water. I never even knew what he was doing until he explained what happened after the fact.

"

^This^ was my experience when I tipped this year. I have no memory of tipping. I was simply in the canoe and then underwater.

My first thought: "So this is how people die."

My second thought: "But not me. Not today. I'm wearing a life jacket."

My canoe also didn't fully capsize. I went down. Not it.

Tumblehome had the same experience: "Canoes tipping is often like a car accident. You are in the water before you know what happened."

Argo: "Was anyone able to gain any further info on this? I just find it very strange that a (presumed) eighteen-year-old capsizes a canoe and doesn't at least re-surface.


I think there is more to learn from this (and similar stories) than to just wear your life vest (a point with which I would agree).


On a separate note, if you Google "Haulover Inlet" you'll be directed to videos of recreational vessels attempting to either head out to sea or return as the tide and waves make the event rather treacherous. I am astounded at the number passengers - particularly kids - that are not wearing live vests. It is jaw-dropping.


"

And if you watch enough of those, you'll see people young and old sitting on the bow, and without delay, are getting thrown into the air and slamming back down on the deck. A young girl was thrown off, without a life jacket, and was picked up by a jet ski because the current is so strong a larger boat can't. Scary.

I've witnessed three canoe dumping/capsizing events. Two were the slow - cant seem to stop it once water started to enter, kind of fall in type.

One was the total surprise, now were swimming type. The surprise one came about in a rain, when a couple guys were paddling hard to get off the lake, hit a deadhead and somehow just like that they and all there gear was in the water, the canoe somehow managed to not really fill up. It had maybe an inch of water in it. I watched the whole thing and still couldn't quite understand exactly how and what happened. My take is over compensating and then either conscious or sub conscious bail decisions were made. "What the hell just happened?" was the first guys response and even later they were like "One second we were paddling and then the next we were in the water."