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Old 12-10-2014, 10:52 PM   #1
KenM
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Default How NOT to launch your kayak

The Alliance Review Dec 9, 2014
By GAYLE AGNEW

An attempt to launch a kayak into Berlin Reservoir Sunday resulted in a pickup truck sliding into the water as well. The 2014 Chevy pickup truck's OnStar service called Ravenna city dispatch with the vehicle information. Dispatch then contacted the Deerfield Fire Depart-ment, which received the call at 11:40 a.m. The truck's owner, Donald Worthy, and a male passenger, escaped the vehicle as it was sinking and swam to shore. According to the report released by Chief Miles Felmy, dispatch confirmed that the driv-er was on shore. First arriving Deer-field Fire Department responders placed Worthy and his passenger into the ambulance for warmth and determined they were not injured. Worthy reported that he had backed his truck down the steep boat ramp and was launching a kayak when the vehicle began to slide into the water. He attempted to get back in the vehicle and drive out but could not get traction as the vehicle began to float, with the downward momentum moving the vehicle further from shore. The vehicle was completely submerged and needed to be removed due to environmental concerns from possible leaking fuel and motor oils. The extrication of the vehicle did not appear to be a simple tow out, so Assistant Chief Vaughn Sutcliffe began to call in resources that would be needed. A local tow operator was already on scene and felt his equipment was suf-ficient to extricate the vehicle when located and rigged to a tow line.

Berlin Township Fire Department was called to bring a second boat. Officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Portage County Sheriff's Office were also on the scene. The Portage County dive team was asked to respond for assistance in connecting a tow line. Due to the dangers involved in a diving operation in cold water, University Life Flight also stood by at the scene. The surface water boat operation, coordinated by Capt. Brian Allison, located the submerged vehicle and marked its location for the responding dive team. One diver entered the water as two others stood by prepared to enter if a rescue of the first diver was required. The diver quickly connected a tow cable to the submerged vehicle and returned to shore. "One mishap did occur when the tow operator was pulling the vehicle from the water," Felmy said. As the vehicle was being pulled the effort was so intense that it pulled the tow truck, which was fully brake locked, down the ramp, sliding sideways. The side-ways motion pinned a tow truck assistant against the retaining wall of the boat ramp. The assistant walked on her own to the ambulance and was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Canton to be checked. Her injuries appeared to be minor; according to Felmly. The vehicle was extricated from the water and environmental impact was minimal, according to the report.
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Old 12-15-2014, 09:53 AM   #2
swampboy62
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Wow.

Reading that really makes me feel better about all the stupid things I've ever done in a kayak.

Steve Z
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Old 12-16-2014, 11:31 AM   #3
JPTolson
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This would fit right in to the thread on most embarrassing paddling experiences on this board from four years ago.
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