The death of a young man who died in his father’s arms after a boating accident has sparked a review of the search and rescue effort
Concerns have been raised that the air force was not called to help search for the men, though its Ohakea base is a short flight away.
Geoffrey Mark Hampton, 19, was on a fishing trip with his father, Alan Hampton, 44, and Duncan Powell, 32, when their boat sank on Saturday night.
They were plucked from the water south of the Whanganui River mouth early on Sunday after 11 hours in the water.
Searchers found Geoffrey Hampton dead in the arms of his father.
Mr Hampton and Mr Powell were suffering from hypothermia.
“Whenever a life is lost in these circumstances, it is important to review the conduct of search and rescue efforts to determine whether all appropriate actions were taken, and to learn any lessons for the future,” Acting Police Minister Phil Goff said.
Police was the main agency for the search, while the Rescue Co- ordination Centre was involved with a search plan.
Mr Goff said he understood that no request had been made to the air force for assistance.
He did not know whether mistakes had been made or whether calling in the air force would have made any difference, but a review would find out whether anything had gone wrong.
A debrief will be held on Monday night in Wanganui involving the defence force, police, rescue co- ordination centre, coast guard and other agencies.
Also next week, police will review their own decision-making process.
Mr Goff said the internal police review would be conducted by Senior Sergeant Martin Paget of the Auckland Maritime Police Unit.
“The outcome of these reviews should be known next week.
“It is important through this process to ensure that if changes are needed in search and rescue procedures, that this occurs,” Mr Goff said.
“Until then, and without full information, it is probably unhelpful to speculate on whether the right decisions were taken and whether use of air force resources might have resulted in a different outcome.”
Yesterday, Whanganui MP Chester Borrows said he was concerned the air force was not called to the mission.
It took 10 hours to rescue the men, and the Ohakea air force base was a two-minute flight away, he said.
“I understand they [the air force] have night vision and winching equipment.”
Mr Goff said that in his role as defence minister he had been told that a Iroquois helicopter out of Ohakea could have been on the scene within two hours of being notified, and a P3 Orion aircraft based in Whenuapai could have been there in three hours.
Whether that would have made any difference was something that the review would discover, he said.
Mr Goff said it was easy with hindsight to make judgments about what should have happened.
“I’d like to express my deepest sympathy. To lose a child in those circumstances . . . is a tragedy we can barely imagine.”
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS — The Forest Service received just a few public comments about a proposal to cap the number of commercial boating trips through the Shoshone rapids in Glenwood Canyon. A 30-day public comment period on the proposal ended Friday.
An outfitter in Glenwood felt the limit was too restrictive. Brian Lloyd, district ranger for the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest, said the outfitter doesn’t operate on the Colorado River and thought the cap would prevent him from doing so.
“His comment was basically that he was being locked out of an opportunity for a permit to run at the river because we’re at capacity, basically,” Lloyd said. “He said that all the guys on the Colorado are big outfitters and there’s no room for small outfitters.”
A private citizen in Eagle also submitted a public comment saying the proposed cap on commercial user days was too high, Lloyd said.
A response from the Western Slope River Guides Association requested more information about the proposal and made it clear the association didn’t want a smaller limit, Lloyd said.
“It was very sensitive about having the numbers reduced because the demand is there,” Lloyd said.
Before the public comment period, the Colorado Division of Wildlife told the Forest Service it was concerned about access for fly fisherman at the Grizzly Creek put-in, Lloyd said. At issue was a concrete post on a put-in ramp that fly fisherman weren’t able to lift boats over. The post was installed to prevent vehicles from using the ramp due to concerns about pedestrian and bike safety.
Lloyd said that in response, river rangers will put in a shorter post each day at 9 a.m. and take it out at 4:30 p.m. during the peak commercial boating season.
The DOW also told the Forest Service that the commercial cap was too large.
“They thought the cap was more than ample,” Lloyd said. “They actually would recommend having a smaller cap.”
The comments came in response to a Forest Service proposal to cap the number of commercial rafting user days through the Shoshone rapids in Glenwood Canyon at 71,500. There would be another 750 days for commercial kayaking, and 1,100 user days for institutional users such as colleges, that could be applied for on a temporary basis.
Those figures, plus an option outfitters have to use up to 10 percent more user days in a year than what is permitted, add up to a proposed “theoretical maximum” of around 81,000 user days per year, Lloyd said.
“We’ve never approached that,” he said, adding that in 2007, outfitters used about 65,500 commercial user days.
A user day is one person on a guided trip for any part of a day.
The only real difference between what’s currently permitted by the Forest Service and the proposed cap is the addition of 1,100 institutional user days, Lloyd said.
The next step, Lloyd said, is to consider modifying the proposal in response to comments. A decision notice will come out probably within a few weeks. There’s a 30-day window to appeal the decision after the notice.
Skippers are being asked to be safe and responsible to avoid a repeat of the three tragic boating accidents this week, NSW Maritime CEO Chris Oxenbould said.
“The skipper of every boat is responsible for the safety of their vessel and the people on board,” Mr Oxenbould said.
“The weather may be cooling down but the boating season hasn’t ended. It is important for skippers to take stock of their responsibilities.”
Since the start of the boating season in October 2007, seven lives have been lost and two people are still missing. There were 11 fatalities during the same period of the boating season last year.
Mr Oxenbould said boating tragedies could be stopped if everyone takes the proper precautions.
“It has been a tragic week on our waterways,” he said.
“While two men who were on board the fishing trawler which sank off the North Coast are alive to tell their tales of survival, grave fears are held for the third man who is missing, presumed dead.
“On Sunday, a male and female, both in their 40s, were involved in a double fatality while canoeing on Tallowa Dam on the Southern Highlands.
“And a man is missing, presumed drowned on Lake Eucumbene following an incident involving a three metre tinny that was found overturned yesterday.’
‘I implore each and every skipper to act as safely and responsibly as possible when out on the water,’ Mr Oxenbould said.
Mr Oxenbould said two of the most important elements of safe and responsible boating are preparation and awareness.
“Lifejacket compliance will be targeted in the run up to Easter,” he said.
“NSW Maritime Boating Officers will be randomly stopping vessels to ensure there is the appropriate number of lifejackets on board – one for each person.
“Skippers need to make sure the lifejackets are in good condition and close at hand at all times. Lifejackets should be worn by all on board at times of heightened risk - such as when boating alone, when conditions get rough or when crossing coastal bars.”
An estimated 1.5 million people head out onto NSW waterways each year in a wide range of craft, from canoes through to commercial vessels.
The Crook County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol in conjunction with the Oregon State Marine Board has scheduled a Mandatory Boater Education Class and Exam on Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.It will be held at the Crook County Fire and Rescue building rear entrance located at 500 NW Belknap Street in Prineville, Oregon.
Marine Deputies will instruct boaters to obtain a Boater Education Card and at the end of the class a final exam will be given; Boaters who pass the exam qualify for their “Boater Education Card.” Currently as of 2008 all adults 70 and younger operating powerboats more than 10 hp, and youth age 12-15 operating any size powerboat, will be required by law to carry the Boaters Ed card.In 2008 all persons age 70 and younger must have a Boater’s Education Card while operating a powerboat as specified above.
The exam is recommended for any boater who might be operating a motorboat on Oregon waterways, and wants a better understanding of boating safety.The exam is 75 multiple-choice questions.Students must receive a score of 70 percent or more to pass.Upon successful completion of the test, each student will receive a diploma and an application for the Boater Education Card. Interested persons can pre-register for the class to ensure that space is available.Contact the Crook County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol at 541-447-6398 for more information.There is no cost for the class, which is open to the public.A study guide for the class, Boat Oregon can be obtained at the Sheriff’s Office. www.bendweekly.com
YACHTING: The founder of the popular Hogs Breath Cafés, Don Algie and his Whitsunday based yacht Storm 2 will be one of the few Queensland crews to line up for honours at the prestigious Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta this weekend.
Skipper Don Algie from Storm 2 said the boat has completed its southbound journey from the Whitsundays to Sydney and is gearing up to race. “Sailing on Sydney Harbour is always fun,” Algie said.
Storm 2 is one of 68 yachts competing in the competitive PHS class. On her journey home, Storm 2 will be making a short stop on the Gold Coast to star in a movie.
Palm Breeze Charters offers rides on pontoon, cigarette boatsBill and Melissa Carlson both share a love for boats. They enjoy boating so much they have chosen to earn a living in the boating industry.”My wife and I have been boating for all of our lives,” Bill Carlson said, adding that he met his wife at an amateur water ski competition in Illinois.In late 2007, the couple started Palm Breeze Charters, Inc. They also operate Boatwatch, a service that looks after and does preventative care on vessels for “owners that don’t have time to properly take care of them.” With Boatwatch, they offer storm and hurricane preparation and, if given enough time, are able to move boats to safer locations or prepare for an incoming storm.According to Melissa Carlson, they “keep the fun in boating,” by refueling, cleaning and covering boats as well.Palm Breeze offers boat rides for two to four hours on a 35-foot Cigarette Cafe Racer.Boaters leave from Cedar Bay Marina on Marco and can travel up to Naples, to The Esplanade or other restaurants in Marco or simply cruise in the Gulf waters or in the Ten Thousand Islands.”We’re going to try to accommodate them to the best of our ability,” Bill Carlson said.The Carlsons also offer four- or six-hour luxury pontoon boat trips departing from Cedar Bay or Caxambas Park. The owners go along on about 90 percent of the charters, but have two backup captains available.Originally from the Chicago area, the Carlsons have owned a condo on Marco for seven years. Bill Carlson had been visiting the area since the 1980s because his parents had a place on the island.”We just fell in love with boating down here,” he said.Boating in Southwest Florida is unique because it offers the opportunity to get out and explore nature, check the views of a property or just spend time cruising in the open water, according to Bill Carlson.”There are so many things you can do by water that make it more fun than by car,” Bill Carlson said.For more about Palm Breeze Charters or Boatwatch, call 239-206-0909.www.zwire.com
• A person is injured and requires care beyond first aid
• Damage to vessels or property exceeds $2000, or there is a complete loss of the vessel
• A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances indicating injury or death
Further, reports must be made in the first 48 hours if:
• There is a fatality within 24 hours of the accident
• There are injuries beyond first aid
• A disappearance occurs aboard the vessel involved in the accident
Accident Causes
The most common type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel, which often does not involve injury or death. The types of craft most likely include cabin motorboats, open motorboats, and personal watercraft.
While some factors involving boating accidents are out of the participants’ hands, several of them can be avoided:
• Operator inattention
• Careless or reckless operation of the boat
• Excessive speed
• Operator inexperience
• Alcohol use
All of these have been recorded in accidents which involved death or injury.
Most of those fatal accidents involved drowning (70%). Of those who drowned, approximately 87% were not wearing a life jacket.
Prevention
Boating accidents can easily be prevented. While operating a recreational vessel, keep the following in mind:
• Wear your life jacket while boating – This, and making sure everyone aboard is wearing theirs at all times, can reduce the chances of drowning.
• Avoid alcohol while boating – Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that alcohol contributed to one-quarter of all boating fatalities in 2005. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, vision, and judgment.
• Be aware of the weather – Weather can change quickly, leaving you, and those with you, stuck in the middle of storms. Pay attention to weather reports before you go out on the water, and keep a look out for developing storms.
• Consider using GPS and distress-alerting technologies – If you are in distress, knowing exactly where you are can mean the difference between life and death.
• Complete a boating education course – Many boating accidents could have been avoided or minimized if the boat’s operator knew exactly what he or she was doing. Education classes teach the guidelines of operating a vessel.
OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. — A Cicero man will spend time in state prison after admitting to killing an 85-year-old in a boating accident last summer.
In Oswego County court Thursday Brad Bouthillier, 22, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal boating accident. He admitted to causing the death of John Kowalewski last August on Oneida Lake by running over the older man’s boat with his own and then leaving him there.
In court Bouthillier admitted he was not paying proper attention and had a woman in his lap when his boat crashed into Kowalewski’s. He said he left the scene knowing the older man had died.
As part of the plea deal Bouthillier faces one and a third to four years in state prison.
“There’s no question that a man died under very unfortunate circumstances. It is incredibly tragic. All we were looking for was to see this case disposed of the way similar cases were disposed of,” said defense attorney Sal Piemonte.
Bouthillier’s lawyer points to the Cortland City Police Officer who was off duty when he hit and killed a woman with his vehicle. Police say the driver, Jeffrey Stockton, was drunk at the time of the crash. He received a six month jail sentence for the incident.
Family members of Kowalewski’s were unavailable for comment.
An Independence family is fighting to change the law. They’re battling in court to get justice for a loved one killed in a drinking and driving accident.
But because the defendant was driving a boat instead of a car, he may not go to jail.
Kevin Harrison was charged with boating while intoxicated and involuntary manslaughter. He’s accused of hitting a woman with his boat and killing her while she was swimming at Nehai Lake near Marceline. Investigators said he was drunk, well over the legal limit, but last month a judge dismissed the case.
Bonnie Cooper’s kids said she liked to travel and ride bikes and news off her death hit the family hard
“You’re alive one minute and the next minute you’re gone,” her daughter Melissa Coram said.
“An accident is one thing, it happens but when I found out the guy was under the influence, I was mad,” her son Bill Chambers said.
Harrison hit Copper with his boat, killing her almost instantly. Investigators said he went back to shore to dump his cooler of beer before going back to the scene.
“If you hit someone in your car and you’re drunk you go to jail,” Cooper’s daughter-in-law Angie Chambers said.
But when the case went to court last month, the judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charge saying the prosecutor couldn’t prove criminal intent. That’s when the family found out that the laws for drinking and driving aren’t the same if you happen to be driving a boat.
“My mother-in-law was mutilated by this boat motor,” Angie Chambers said.
Now the family is talking to legislators and have started a petition, hoping maybe they can change the law.
The family’s still hoping they can get justice, the case has been re-filed to go before a new judge next month.
NICE, France — Saddam Hussein’s former 269-foot motoryacht has all the comforts of home — if you’re a despot who’s accustomed to having a missile-launching system, bulletproof portlights, a mini-submarine and an escape pod at your command. However, it also has a wealth of luxury features for happier times on the water, including multiple swimming pools, several extremely large salons, more than 10 lavishly appointed cabins, gold bath fixtures and a helicopter pad.
Nigel Burgess Yacht Brokers, the firm that is marketing the $35 million vessel — now called Ocean Breeze instead of Qadisiyah Saddam — has not revealed the name of the current owner. And that has led to a legal challenge from the Iraqi government, claiming that if the yacht is possessed by a former member of Saddam’s inner circle, the vessel is now the property of the people of Iraq.
There is no question that the people of Iraq paid to build the custom yacht back in 1981, although Saddam placed the order. Saddam never used the vessel, and it was kept in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia until recently.
What is in question is who is selling the boat: The Saudi royal family, who kept it for Saddam when the nation was an ally of Iraq? The king of Jordan, who may have been granted title to the vessel after Saddam’s overthrow? An unrelated business associate of the royals? Or perhaps a member of Saddam’s former entourage?
According to a report in the French newspaper Le Figaro, a legal entity incorporated in the Cayman Islands now holds title to the boat for an unnamed “beneficial owner.”
The Iraqi government will plead its case in a Nice, France commercial court in March. If the owner reveals himself or herself at that time, many questions will be answered. However, if the owner continues to remain anonymous, Iraqi government representatives believe they stand a very good chance of winning their case — and Saddam’s former dreamboat.
