I wonder what really happened? Was he experienced? Did he go out over his capabilities? Did he hit his head? Did he get held down or pinned under his sail? Sad to hear and hope that everyone stays safe up there?
Well there's no big swell up there so I'm guessing he maybe whacked his head on the mast and was knocked out, maybe got tangled in his rig? Maybe he was a poor swimmer and just drowned, but with small swell I very much doubt it. The fact that he was a European tourist perhaps suggests he was out of his depth?
Hi there, I have had a first hand account of what went down from someone who assisted in the rescue. I was up there last week with the WindWarroir boys and just let me tell you regardless of big or small swell GLoo is a place where you need your concentration at max level at all times. While there a gut broke his ankle as he was pummeled in the inside zone and another was bitten by a brown snake on his way to the toilet the next day.
Apparently the guy was held under for 10 - 13 seconds in the area between toomies and the carpark, does not sound like much but when paniced it is an eternity. A fellow windsurfer that I know noticed him floating around just in the transition area before the bombie and went to assist, after seeing something wrong he ditched his gear and helped the strickened sailor to shore (beach section where the kiters lauch from - near the Bombie approx 1km from toomies). By all accounts he was still alive when brought to shore and a doctor was soon on the scene as was my Bro who unknowingly thought our friend was the one in trouble (turned out to be the one lending assistance). Accounts got a bit sketchy after this as my Bro went down the beach to retreve our mates gear (3km downwind ast 3 mile camp) as he had no medical training and felt like a 3rd wheel as our friend is a fire fighter who was quickly joined by the doctor from Toomies carpark. Once my Bro returned the German sailor had a drip and was being prepared to be driven to Carnarvon or at least be met somewhere to be flown to hospital. The rest is history I guess. Let me state that this is only from a conversation with my brother and I'm merely trying to let you know what I know.
Yeah that sounds like the story I heard but I was told in more detail. When I heard about the accident I text Spot1 last night who is up there now. He called me this morning and went through the whole account. Know one knows exactly what happened to cause him to drown. They used Spots board as a stretcher to get him up to the carpark and were about to put him in the back of Spots ute until they realised that would not be a good idea on the track out so he was put in one of the doctors car. I wont attempt to tell it to the extent he did. I hate chinese whispers. Anyway be safe.
I think you will have to wait for the coroners report to see if he was knocked out, broken neck, drowned or what. I dont think anyone witnessed the actual incident.
My condolences to his family in Germany and his partner who was there holidaying with him.
there were a few grinding set waves on the day but on average head high with 20-25kn southerly. the guys first on the scene said he was vaguely concious then they got hit by a set then he was unconcious. there were rigs just dumped and left to be washed through the bombie while they tried to get oliver in. All the crew and doctors at the scene were really helpful. everyone helped to do what they could in the circumstances. It was amazing to have that many doctors on the scene.
There is some video footage I shot where the guy happens to be in view as he comes of his board on an already broken wave. I won't go into details as the video is currently with Carnarvon police for further investigation but it was by no means a big wipe out or different in any way to what you would find on most Australian beaches with waves.
There didn't seem to be a very long time between when he came off and when the rescue started. However, to get him back to the beach took a very long time due to the distance from land.
I feel very sorry for his partner. I can't even begin to imagine how traumatic this experience must be for her.
One of the attending doctors mentioned during a meeting at the camp later that evening explained that their biggest challenge was the lack of pure oxygen. While they had a (by pure luck) access to adrenaline and other emergency equipment it was oxygen they needed the most.
There has been talk about establishing an emergency medical kit at 3 mile camp but as always money seems to be the biggest issue.
I also asked the police in Carnarvon about a rescue helicopter. Apparently that's something they have been lobbying for with government for a very long time. But to-date with out success.
To be honest, having witnessed the incident first hand I'd be the first to get out the check book and help out with money if would mean that a similar tragedy could be avoided in the future.
yeah, thats what I heard - oxygen would have helped, although may not have changed the outcome.
You would have to check the injuries etc that happen at that place to see what other medica lgear is needed. specially during the winter surfing season. guys pushing themselves past the limit in huge surf. Punctured lungs seemed to be a big one. but lots of others.
Thats a sad story. At least he went doing what he loved, but still a very very sad accident. Medical oxygen really increases the chances of survival. If it is given soon after the incident there is a fairly good chance that the person will be ok. Where i work im pretty sure the tanks are hired from boc gas. No idea what the hire rates are, but i can't imagine it being ridiculous. A donation system up at gnarloo would probably get enough money together.
I have also been thinking about how emergency equipment could be funded up there... ... I think firstly the state government should make some coin available. They are directly benefiting from visiting overseas tourists. Any bad accident like the one we just had and the place pretty quickly gets a bad wrap.
Donations is another option but from my experience rarely enough to cover all costs involved.
