Canoe mishap, anyone we know?

[Melonfish]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8549780.stm

seems the tide got the better of em, the mersey is still a little unpredictable about this time.

 

[Cobweb]

Crikey, hope they are okay!

 

[FerlasDave]

Well I think we can say goodbye to being able to go out on the water without some kind of legallity getting in the way now.

 

[mr dazzler]

Well I think we can say goodbye to being able to go out on the water without some kind of legallity getting in the way now.

wot you mean ban every one in case someone gets into trouble? Never.....

 

[Paul_B]

Sounds like it was a tidal bore to me. Apparently the Mersey has the third largest tidal range in the UK. The Severn has the highest obviously. I've tried to surf a tidal bore before, the Kent that flows past Arnside. That was disappointing as it consisted of 4 close packed waves about 2ft high at its geeatest. It does sound like they didn't really treat the Mersey with respect. For the UK it is a big river and any tidal river of that size should be respected. At the very least a bouyancy aid. Not only does it help you when you capsize it also provides a bit of warmth so would have reduced thee likelihood of them getting hypothermia.

Personally in that sort of water I'd prefer to use a sea kayak over an open canadian canoe.

 

[mr dazzler]

Years ago on the river Tees you could get flash floods where the water level would rise in seconds and it would drive a lethal "tidal wave" along caryying anything from drowned sheep to telegraph poles beer barrels and trees. It often caught out unwary people and drowned them. The phenomenon ceased when reservoirs were built in upper Teesdale to control water levels more effectively. But even despite that, it is still awe inspiring to see the brown muddy water and feel it shaking the ground when the levels do rise. The Tees is narrow and deep round Barnard Castle way, hence why it is fast and one of the canoists favourite waters......

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm amazed the reporter didn't go all the way and blame Raymond Mears for their ill-prepared enthusiasm!

Cheers

 

[korvin karbon]

glad they are ok, but not using the correct equipment, in my world means that you get charged the full rate for the rescue services.

 

[phill_ue]

glad they are ok, but not using the correct equipment, in my world means that you get charged the full rate for the rescue services.

Fair enough, but one obviously did have a life jacket on yet still needed rescuing so what would be the point? Now, the after care for hypothermia could be billed, after all if they had wore the correct clothing for messing about on water in winter (A dry suit with lot of warm gear underneath!) then it may have been a different matter. Personally, I believe in Darwins' theory of numpties who will take themselves out of the gene pool and this should be encouraged. There are too many times when people are reckless with their lives and endanger other people who have to come to their aid. The story of the guy who kept getting rescued by the Coastguard because he couldn't navigate a sea comes to mind.

 

[Angelo]

yep they will prob blame somone off the telly we have just had that other guy who died in canada who they recon went out with only learning from the tv show...o well only a matter of time before the goverment bring somthing in

 

[fast but dim]

they were rescued by green watch at the fire station where i work: Apparantly they were properly equipped and seemed to know what they were doing. they were caught out by the size of tidal bore (can be impressive on the mersey) which was the biggest of the year.

My mate who picked them up suspects they were attempting to ride the bore upstream but got caught out. they were both ok, and the canoe made it back in one piece too.

 

[korvin karbon]

they were rescued by green watch at the fire station where i work: Apparantly they were properly equipped and seemed to know what they were doing. they were caught out by the size of tidal bore (can be impressive on the mersey) which was the biggest of the year.

My mate who picked them up suspects they were attempting to ride the bore upstream but got caught out. they were both ok, and the canoe made it back in one piece too.

accidential misadventure I have no problems with, I know very well one day I will need help even though i have taken all the correct precautions. Its what i pay my taxes for.

Hope the news is corrected to state they did have all the correct gear.

 

[Paul_B]

If they had the right gear I partially retract my above statement. However I would qualify things by saying all the gear, no idea! Knowledge, experience and correct gear make for success in all kayaking and canoeing endeavours. I suspect someone with all the needed gear can quite easily conme a cropper because they don't know what to expect through lack of knowledge and/or experience. I do things like riding tidal bores with a local club. There are people there who have done the bore before so they know what to expect and they will be experienced to know who in their group needs looking after and who doesn't. Going out onto tidal bores on your own or two people in one boat is a risk that is inadvisable except for experienced people IMHO. The first time should be with someone. Also I was always taught at the beginning of my kayaking life that less than three there must never be. The argument being that one looks after the casualty and the other walks out to get help. That is whitewater paddling but tidal waters are actually more powerful than rapids as there is so much water there creating a greater force. I am always wary of tidal water. Bad experiences.

 

[Prawnster]

This stretch of water is just down the road from me and I've fished it a few times.

I doubt if it was an actual tidal bore that caused them problems because it isn't really a stand-up wave there. It is a maelstrom though, the tide really rips in and out particularly at this time of year. It's not something I'd fancy a paddle in anyway.

Probably a combination of struggling to control the canoe in the swirling current and the debris (I've seen what look like whole trees) coming up river has done them in.

Glad they're ok.

 

[Melonfish]

You penketh way Prawnster? it really gets hairy past fiddlers towards widnes and onwards. heck i thought it ran fast through Warrington (its that or get mugged outside "Halo" or what was "Mr Smiths"

the Ferry Tavern is a fave pub up there, waiting for the acoustic nights to start again. they have plaques on the front of the bar as you walk in with dates on them at different hights. each one shows a yearly tidal surge and how underwater the pub got. even after all that and the big fire years ago its still going strong.

 

[Prawnster]

Ah Mr Smiths. Spent a few boozy evenings there in my youth. Saw a few running battles with police outside as well!

I'm in St.Helens now but used to live in Halewood. Pickerings pasture just up from fiddlers was where we walked the dog.

That's a great pub, The Ferry Tavern, loads of character. Nice pies too.

 

[maddave]

Ah Mr Smiths. Spent a few boozy evenings there in my youth. Saw a few running battles with police outside as well!

I'm in St.Helens now but used to live in Halewood. Pickerings pasture just up from fiddlers was where we walked the dog.

That's a great pub, The Ferry Tavern, loads of character. Nice pies too.

Me too when they used to do the rock night...Then on to the Carlton Club....Happy days

 

[_scorpio_]

had wore the correct clothing for messing about on water in winter (A dry suit with lot of warm gear underneath!)

even in winter kayaking makes you really warm, i think they would probably have had spare clothes too in a dry bag. this isn't the type of canoe for riding a tidal wave though lol!

 

[Melonfish]

Me too when they used to do the rock night...Then on to the Carlton Club....Happy days

blimey another carlton lad, we used to hit the barley then wander over to the carlton for around 9ish and get in on the happy hour
happy days indeed. nights rockin out to the best music, chilling on the fire escape and the 5am chats in sankey street lol.

 

[calibanzwei]

Haha - more of the Carlton gang