lisa
06-09-2005, 09:58 AM
SHORT REPORT
The kick with the kite: an analysis of kite surfing related off shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa
By: A K Exadaktylos1, G M Sclabas2, I Blake1, K Swemmer1, G McCormick1 and P Erasmus1
ABSTRACT
Background: This study analyses kite surfing related off shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa with the aim of providing more information on the frequency, pattern, and severity of kite surfing related injuries.
Methods: The observation period for this study started on October 1, 2003 and ended on May 1, 2004 and included 30 air rescue missions. Data and information were collected prospectively.
Results: The Air Mercy Service in Cape Town Province responded to 30 requests for help. Twenty five accidents were attributed to inability to detach the kite from the harness. Injuries occurred in five incidents and included fractures of the upper arm, ribs and ankle, and lacerations and contusions to the head and neck. Two patients suffered from hypothermia and one experienced severe exhaustion. All surfers were rescued successfully and there were no fatal accidents.
Discussion: The risk potential of this new sport is unclear. Dangerous situations can occur despite proper training and safety precautions due to unpredictable conditions and difficulties with equipment. Safety should be stressed. Surfers should sailing with a fellow kiter and should wear a life vest. More efforts must be taken to make this booming new water sport safer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations: AMS, The Air Mercy Service; NSRI, National Sea Rescue Institute; WSAR, Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation
Keywords: accidents; injuries; kite boarding; kite surfing; rescue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A K Exadaktylos1, G M Sclabas2, I Blake1, K Swemmer1, G McCormick1 and P Erasmus1
1 South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service, Cape Town, South Africa
2 UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Correspondence to:
Dr Aristomenis K Exadaktylos
Department of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; aristomenis@exadaktylos.ch
Accepted 21 December 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary
M Muhm3
3 Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria; manfred.muhm@meduniwien.ac.at
The authors describe their experience with injuries related to a new type of sport, kite surfing. In fact, a rapidly rising number of new sports have emerged during the last three decades. Just remember: who knew about paragliding, mountain-biking, etc, 20 years ago? However, with the new sports we have to learn about their specific patterns of injury. As kite surfing is a very new outdoor sport, we cannot as yet really estimate its risk potential. There are only very few data on this topic, so the preliminary data presented by the authors are welcome. All physicians engaged in the treatment of sports-related injuries should be encouraged to report on their experience with new "trendy" sports. This will contribute to better knowledge and to the establishment of adequate safety precautions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary
M Curatolo4
4 Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Therapy, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Michele.curatolo@insel.ch
This paper describes the complications of the new sport of kite surfing based on rescue missions in Cape Town. It should stimulate future research aimed at: (i) estimating the incidence of complications and therefore the safety of this sport; (ii) providing better guidelines for the safer use of equipment; and (iii) improving the safety of the sport by improving the manufacture of the equipment used.
Related Article
Online short reports
Br. J. Sports Med. 2005 39: 266. [Extract] [Full Text]
The complete report can be found at:
Br J Sports Med 2005;39:e26 ( http://www.bjsportmed.com/cgi/content/full/39/5/e26 ). doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.014795
SHORT REPORT
The kick with the kite: an analysis of kite surfing related off
shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa
A K Exadaktylos, G M Sclabas, I Blake, K Swemmer, G McCormick, P Erasmus
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Br J Sports Med 2005;39:e26 (http://www.bjsportmed.com/cgi/content/full/39/5/e26). doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.014795
Background: This study analyses kite surfing related off
shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa with the
aim of providing more information on the frequency, pattern,
and severity of kite surfing related injuries.
Methods: The observation period for this study started on
October 1, 2003 and ended on May 1, 2004 and included
30 air rescue missions. Data and information were collected
prospectively.
Results: The Air Mercy Service in Cape Town Province
responded to 30 requests for help. Twenty five accidents
were attributed to inability to detach the kite from the
harness. Injuries occurred in five incidents and included
fractures of the upper arm, ribs and ankle, and lacerations
and contusions to the head and neck. Two patients suffered
from hypothermia and one experienced severe exhaustion.
All surfers were rescued successfully and there were no fatal
accidents.
Discussion: The risk potential of this new sport is unclear.
Dangerous situations can occur despite proper training and
safety precautions due to unpredictable conditions and
difficulties with equipment. Safety should be stressed.
Surfers should sailing with a fellow kiter and should wear a
life vest. More efforts must be taken to make this booming
new water sport safer.
Kite surfing is one of the newest and trendiest disciplines
in outdoor sports in South Africa. Kite surfing is like a
cross between wind surfing, wake boarding, and
paragliding. Kite surfers control a wing of lightweight fabric,
which pulls them across the water or above it (for further
information see http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/
Kite%20surfing). In 1996 kite surfing had its first worldwide
media exposure as a new sport thanks to the wind surfers
Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin. Although the sport of kite
surfing is brand new, it is not a new invention and the
concept was applied in eastern cultures a long time ago. In
fact, in China and Polynesia, kite sailing was a form of
transportation in the Pacific Rim beginning in the 13th and
14th centuries! Indonesian and Polynesian kite fishermen
dragged their canoes with kites as early as the 12th century
(see http://sportsvl.com/water/kitesurfing.htm).
A modern surf kite flies by opposing the force of the wind
with the tension of a string held by the operator who is
standing on predominantly fibreglass boards. These large
kites are designed to provide significant pull and come in two
main forms: foils and leading edge inflatables. Most kites
now use a similar design with inflatable bladders and struts
which assist greatly in re-launching the kite from water.
There are several different control systems used with these
kites which have three to five lines and a bar or handles. In
the neutral position, in which the kite is straight overhead,
there is no pulling of the kite except against the surfer’s body
weight. The surfer then lies down in the shallows and straps
the board onto their feet. Then, in a coordinated movement,
the kite is flown towards the water in the direction in which
the board points. If the board does not dig into the water or a
wave, the kite pulls the surfer up in a powerful planeing
motion similar to water skiing. Off shore, jumping is very
popular, using a power kite to pull the jumper tens of
feet above the waves in a controlled leap (for further details
see http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Kite%20surfing).
Photographs of this dynamic new water sport are shown in
figs 1 and 2.
The popularity of kite surfing has quickly increased over
the past 2 years making it one of the fastest growing water
activities. Today there are worldwide organisations, competitions,
videos, and magazines dedicated to this increasingly
popular sport. In South Africa kite surfers already outnumber
the wind surfing community.
In order to present the first search and rescue related data
of this new off shore sport, we prospectively collected the
data of all kite board related rescue missions performed by
the Cape Town chapter of the South African Red Cross Air
Mercy Service between October 2003 and May 2004. With
this study we hope to shed more light on the frequency,
pattern, and severity of kite surfing related injuries. Better
understanding of the risks of kite surfing might also help
manufacturers and instructors develop further measures to
prevent serious injuries.
METHODS
The Air Mercy Service (AMS) in Cape Town Province provides
aero-medical and rescue services in partnership with the
provincial administration, emergency medical services, and
the Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation (WSAR) and
employs an air ambulance helicopter (an MB B0105) and a
rescue helicopter (an Alouette III, recently replaced by a
AS350 B2; fig 3). AMS is the medical first response rescue
organisation for this type of emergency. The observation
period for this study started on October 1, 2003 and ended on
May 1, 2004 and included 30 missions to rescue kite surfers.
Data and information were collected prospectively.
RESULTS
The AMS undertook about 800 helicopter flights during the
study period, of which 121 were rescue missions (table 1).
AMS responded to 30 requests for sea rescue. Of these 30
missions, 25 were in support of the National Sea Rescue
Institute (NSRI) and five were based on primary rescue calls
made by fellow surfers or a beach guard. A total of 25
accidents (83%) were attributed to inability to detach the kite
from the harness in a situation involving loss of control over
the kite due to very strong winds far away from the beach or
Abbreviations: AMS, The Air Mercy Service; NSRI, National Sea
Rescue Institute; WSAR, Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation
1 of 4
www.bjsportmed.com
inability to launch the kite off shore due to weak winds.
These were pure search missions and the kite surfer was not
taken on board the helicopter, but brought ashore by an NSRI
boat. Five rescue missions (17%) were injury related. All 30
rescued persons had got too far away from the coast line and,
to our surprise, were not wearing life vests. Mean age was
26 years (range 23–35). There were 27 males and three
females involved in the accidents. All 30 surfers were rescued
successfully and there were no fatal accidents.
The following injuries were observed. Two patients were
hit by their boards and suffered from fractures of the
humerus, ribs, and ankle. Both patients underwent surgery
for their bone fractures. Two other patients were dragged into
the open sea due the kite failing to detach and suffered from
hypothermia and exhaustion. Both patients needed admission
to a hospital critical care unit for their hypothermia. The
fifth injured patient suffered from severe exhaustion and
lacerations and contusions in the head and neck region. He
was treated on an outpatient basis. All five injured
individuals were male.
Figure 1 Kite surfer in action. (A) Typical view of a kite surfer as seen from the beach. (B, C) Close up of a kiter displaying the equipment and
dynamics of this new sport. (D) A jump over the open sea. (E) Sunset jump. (Photographs are reproduced with permission of Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
Cape Town, South Africa.)
Figure 2 A dangerous situation. The surfer is pulled up in the air by his
kite due to strong winds and has lost control over the kite. In this situation
a timely detachment from the kite is crucial to prevent serious injuries.
(Photograph are reproduced with permission of Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
Cape Town, South Africa.)
Figure 3 Combined rescue mission of WSAR with helicopter support
from the AMS.
2 of 4 Exadaktylos, Sclabas, Blake, et al
www.bjsportmed.com
DISCUSSION
Kite surfing is the natural evolution of extreme wind
powered sports such as wind surfing, wake boarding, and
paragliding, and in its short history has brought together the
most exciting components of these activities.1 2 To date the
risk potential of this new sport is unclear. Dangerous
situations can occur even with proper training and safety
precautions due to unpredictable off shore conditions and
difficulties with the equipment. Physicians and rescue crews
are likely to see patients with spinal and chest injuries,
anterior shoulder dislocation, and back pain sustained during
falls when hitting the waves. Further upper and lower
extremities are at risk for fractures caused by hitting kite
boards. Skin lacerations, sun burn, and cranio-facial traumas
will be further injuries associated with kite surfing.
The key to preventing injuries and dangerous situations is
to stress off shore and beach safety. Protective head gear
helps avoid lacerations, concussions, and other brain injuries.
Helmets designed and certified for wind surfing and water
skiing are readily available and have a light, impact resistant
plastic shell and provide adequate peripheral vision and
hearing.3 Kite surfers should always wear helmets because of
the risk of hitting the waves head first. A personal flotation
device is highly recommended and is life saving if the surfer
losses control of the kite and is unable to detach the kite from
the harness and is dragged into the open sea. Furthermore, a
life vest, as well as a wet or dry suit, can prevent
hypothermia. As our data show, none of the rescued persons
was wearing a life vest. Gloves can decrease the risk of
injuries to the hands.
Regarding national sea rescue guidelines, kite surfers
should never venture onto the water in off shore winds.
The best direction is cross shore as in a strong wind with flat
water it is possible to travel at 50 km/h (30 miles/h) or more.
Beginners should turn by going to the shallows or other
stopping area, putting the kite up into neutral, and then
turning the kite in the opposite direction to avoid collisions
with other surfers or people on the beach. An unskilful turn
can cause the surfer to fly, and is often followed by a fall if
the surfer is unable to position the board at the correct angle;
injuries are common.4 ‘‘Flying’’ a kite can be a high impact
contact sport. Flying occurs when the surfer pulls the kite.
The kite is usually 20 m (60 ft) in the air, and a careless turn
in high winds can easily swing the surfer 5 m into the air and
down to uncontrolled contact with other surfers or even the
beach and can cause severe head and neck injuries. This is
extremely dangerous and should never be tried near or above
land. Lightweight people can easily be carried off and
smashed against water, buildings, dunes, and power lines.
A kite board, like a wind surfing board, is considered a
sailing vessel, and so kite surfers must follow the usual rules
of sailing and respect other people in the water. Sailing with a
fellow kiter can ensure that help is available in case of an
accident or equipment failure. Fatal accidents like the case of
a 38 year old who became the first kite surfer to be killed in
Britain in August 2003 after a gust of wind swept him 50 ft
along Calshot beach, near Southampton, and hurled him
head first into a sea wall, are rare but should remind us of the
dangers related to this new trendy sport. More effort should
be taken in the future to make this new exciting water sport
safer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank all the men and women, volunteers, staff,
and donors, who make the life saving work of the Red Cross Air
Mercy Services a reality. We would like to thank Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
one of Cape Town’s finest kite surfers, for using some of his private
surf pictures for this publication.
ELECTRONIC-DATABASE INFORMATION
Information on kite surfing cam be found at http://
encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Kite%20surfing
and at http://sportsvl.com/water/kitesurfing.htm.
Authors’ affiliations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A K Exadaktylos, I Blake, K Swemmer, G McCormick, P Erasmus, South
African Red Cross Air Mercy Service, Cape Town, South Africa
G M Sclabas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Competing interests: none declared.
Photographs are reproduced with permission.
Correspondence to: Dr Aristomenis K Exadaktylos, Department of
Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital
Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; aristomenis@exadaktylos.ch
Accepted 21 December 2004
REFERENCES
1 American Windsurfing Industries. Summary of available research. See
www.maui.net/,hotwind/uska.html (accessed 4 March 2005).
2 Rosenbaum DA, Dietz TE. Windsurfing injuries. Phys Sportsmed,
2002;30(5), available at www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2002/05_02/
rosenbaum.htm.
What this study adds
With this study we hope to shed more light on the frequency,
pattern, and severity of injuries sustained when kite surfing,
one of the trendiest outdoor sports activities in South Africa.
Better understanding of the risk of kite surfing might also help
manufacturers and instructors develop further measures to
prevent serious injuries.
What is already known on this topic
The pattern and frequency of kite surfing injuries are largely
unknown although the sport is similar to other water sports
activities, such as wind surfing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
According to previous studies, a quick release
system enabling the surfer to detach the kite in dangerous
situations might aid in the prevention of injuries.
Table 1 Air rescue services provided by AMS in Western Cape Province
Search and rescue helicopter missions, Alouette III October 1, 2003–May 1, 2004 No. of calls Average airborne time per mission
Requests (mountain and sea rescue) 121 1.9 h
Primary sea rescue for kite surfers supported by the AMS 25 0.6 h
Primary response to rescue calls for kite surfers 5 0.7 h
An analysis of kite surfing rescue missions 3 of 4
www.bjsportmed.com
3 Nickel C, Zernial O, Musahl V, et al. A prospective study of kitesurfing injuries.
Am J Sports Med 2004;32(4):921–7.
4 Petersen W, Hansen U, Zernial O, et al. [Mechanisms and prevention of
kitesurfing injuries]. Sportverletz Sportschaden 2002;16(3):115–21 (in
German).
engaged in the treatment of sports-related injuries should
be encouraged to report on their experience with new
‘‘trendy’’ sports. This will contribute to better knowledge
and to the establishment of adequate safety precautions.
M Muhm
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria;
manfred.muhm@meduniwien.ac.at
This paper describes the complications of the new sport of
kite surfing based on rescue missions in Cape Town. It
should stimulate future research aimed at: (i) estimating
the incidence of complications and therefore the safety of this
sport; (ii) providing better guidelines for the safer use of
equipment; and (iii) improving the safety of the sport by
improving the manufacture of the equipment used.
M Curatolo
Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Therapy, Inselspital,
Bern, Switzerland; Michele.curatolo@insel.ch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The authors describe their experience with injuries related
to a new type of sport, kite surfing. In fact, a rapidly
rising number of new sports have emerged during the
last three decades. Just remember: who knew about
paragliding, mountain-biking, etc, 20 years ago? However,
with the new sports we have to learn about their specific
patterns of injury. As kite surfing is a very new outdoor sport,
we cannot as yet really estimate its risk potential. There are
only very few data on this topic, so the preliminary data
presented by the authors are welcome. All physicians
4 of 4 Exadaktylos, Sclabas, Blake, et al
www.bjsportmed.com
.
The kick with the kite: an analysis of kite surfing related off shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa
By: A K Exadaktylos1, G M Sclabas2, I Blake1, K Swemmer1, G McCormick1 and P Erasmus1
ABSTRACT
Background: This study analyses kite surfing related off shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa with the aim of providing more information on the frequency, pattern, and severity of kite surfing related injuries.
Methods: The observation period for this study started on October 1, 2003 and ended on May 1, 2004 and included 30 air rescue missions. Data and information were collected prospectively.
Results: The Air Mercy Service in Cape Town Province responded to 30 requests for help. Twenty five accidents were attributed to inability to detach the kite from the harness. Injuries occurred in five incidents and included fractures of the upper arm, ribs and ankle, and lacerations and contusions to the head and neck. Two patients suffered from hypothermia and one experienced severe exhaustion. All surfers were rescued successfully and there were no fatal accidents.
Discussion: The risk potential of this new sport is unclear. Dangerous situations can occur despite proper training and safety precautions due to unpredictable conditions and difficulties with equipment. Safety should be stressed. Surfers should sailing with a fellow kiter and should wear a life vest. More efforts must be taken to make this booming new water sport safer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations: AMS, The Air Mercy Service; NSRI, National Sea Rescue Institute; WSAR, Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation
Keywords: accidents; injuries; kite boarding; kite surfing; rescue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A K Exadaktylos1, G M Sclabas2, I Blake1, K Swemmer1, G McCormick1 and P Erasmus1
1 South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service, Cape Town, South Africa
2 UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Correspondence to:
Dr Aristomenis K Exadaktylos
Department of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; aristomenis@exadaktylos.ch
Accepted 21 December 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary
M Muhm3
3 Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria; manfred.muhm@meduniwien.ac.at
The authors describe their experience with injuries related to a new type of sport, kite surfing. In fact, a rapidly rising number of new sports have emerged during the last three decades. Just remember: who knew about paragliding, mountain-biking, etc, 20 years ago? However, with the new sports we have to learn about their specific patterns of injury. As kite surfing is a very new outdoor sport, we cannot as yet really estimate its risk potential. There are only very few data on this topic, so the preliminary data presented by the authors are welcome. All physicians engaged in the treatment of sports-related injuries should be encouraged to report on their experience with new "trendy" sports. This will contribute to better knowledge and to the establishment of adequate safety precautions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary
M Curatolo4
4 Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Therapy, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Michele.curatolo@insel.ch
This paper describes the complications of the new sport of kite surfing based on rescue missions in Cape Town. It should stimulate future research aimed at: (i) estimating the incidence of complications and therefore the safety of this sport; (ii) providing better guidelines for the safer use of equipment; and (iii) improving the safety of the sport by improving the manufacture of the equipment used.
Related Article
Online short reports
Br. J. Sports Med. 2005 39: 266. [Extract] [Full Text]
The complete report can be found at:
Br J Sports Med 2005;39:e26 ( http://www.bjsportmed.com/cgi/content/full/39/5/e26 ). doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.014795
SHORT REPORT
The kick with the kite: an analysis of kite surfing related off
shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa
A K Exadaktylos, G M Sclabas, I Blake, K Swemmer, G McCormick, P Erasmus
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Br J Sports Med 2005;39:e26 (http://www.bjsportmed.com/cgi/content/full/39/5/e26). doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.014795
Background: This study analyses kite surfing related off
shore rescue missions in Cape Town, South Africa with the
aim of providing more information on the frequency, pattern,
and severity of kite surfing related injuries.
Methods: The observation period for this study started on
October 1, 2003 and ended on May 1, 2004 and included
30 air rescue missions. Data and information were collected
prospectively.
Results: The Air Mercy Service in Cape Town Province
responded to 30 requests for help. Twenty five accidents
were attributed to inability to detach the kite from the
harness. Injuries occurred in five incidents and included
fractures of the upper arm, ribs and ankle, and lacerations
and contusions to the head and neck. Two patients suffered
from hypothermia and one experienced severe exhaustion.
All surfers were rescued successfully and there were no fatal
accidents.
Discussion: The risk potential of this new sport is unclear.
Dangerous situations can occur despite proper training and
safety precautions due to unpredictable conditions and
difficulties with equipment. Safety should be stressed.
Surfers should sailing with a fellow kiter and should wear a
life vest. More efforts must be taken to make this booming
new water sport safer.
Kite surfing is one of the newest and trendiest disciplines
in outdoor sports in South Africa. Kite surfing is like a
cross between wind surfing, wake boarding, and
paragliding. Kite surfers control a wing of lightweight fabric,
which pulls them across the water or above it (for further
information see http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/
Kite%20surfing). In 1996 kite surfing had its first worldwide
media exposure as a new sport thanks to the wind surfers
Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin. Although the sport of kite
surfing is brand new, it is not a new invention and the
concept was applied in eastern cultures a long time ago. In
fact, in China and Polynesia, kite sailing was a form of
transportation in the Pacific Rim beginning in the 13th and
14th centuries! Indonesian and Polynesian kite fishermen
dragged their canoes with kites as early as the 12th century
(see http://sportsvl.com/water/kitesurfing.htm).
A modern surf kite flies by opposing the force of the wind
with the tension of a string held by the operator who is
standing on predominantly fibreglass boards. These large
kites are designed to provide significant pull and come in two
main forms: foils and leading edge inflatables. Most kites
now use a similar design with inflatable bladders and struts
which assist greatly in re-launching the kite from water.
There are several different control systems used with these
kites which have three to five lines and a bar or handles. In
the neutral position, in which the kite is straight overhead,
there is no pulling of the kite except against the surfer’s body
weight. The surfer then lies down in the shallows and straps
the board onto their feet. Then, in a coordinated movement,
the kite is flown towards the water in the direction in which
the board points. If the board does not dig into the water or a
wave, the kite pulls the surfer up in a powerful planeing
motion similar to water skiing. Off shore, jumping is very
popular, using a power kite to pull the jumper tens of
feet above the waves in a controlled leap (for further details
see http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Kite%20surfing).
Photographs of this dynamic new water sport are shown in
figs 1 and 2.
The popularity of kite surfing has quickly increased over
the past 2 years making it one of the fastest growing water
activities. Today there are worldwide organisations, competitions,
videos, and magazines dedicated to this increasingly
popular sport. In South Africa kite surfers already outnumber
the wind surfing community.
In order to present the first search and rescue related data
of this new off shore sport, we prospectively collected the
data of all kite board related rescue missions performed by
the Cape Town chapter of the South African Red Cross Air
Mercy Service between October 2003 and May 2004. With
this study we hope to shed more light on the frequency,
pattern, and severity of kite surfing related injuries. Better
understanding of the risks of kite surfing might also help
manufacturers and instructors develop further measures to
prevent serious injuries.
METHODS
The Air Mercy Service (AMS) in Cape Town Province provides
aero-medical and rescue services in partnership with the
provincial administration, emergency medical services, and
the Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation (WSAR) and
employs an air ambulance helicopter (an MB B0105) and a
rescue helicopter (an Alouette III, recently replaced by a
AS350 B2; fig 3). AMS is the medical first response rescue
organisation for this type of emergency. The observation
period for this study started on October 1, 2003 and ended on
May 1, 2004 and included 30 missions to rescue kite surfers.
Data and information were collected prospectively.
RESULTS
The AMS undertook about 800 helicopter flights during the
study period, of which 121 were rescue missions (table 1).
AMS responded to 30 requests for sea rescue. Of these 30
missions, 25 were in support of the National Sea Rescue
Institute (NSRI) and five were based on primary rescue calls
made by fellow surfers or a beach guard. A total of 25
accidents (83%) were attributed to inability to detach the kite
from the harness in a situation involving loss of control over
the kite due to very strong winds far away from the beach or
Abbreviations: AMS, The Air Mercy Service; NSRI, National Sea
Rescue Institute; WSAR, Wilderness Search and Rescue Organisation
1 of 4
www.bjsportmed.com
inability to launch the kite off shore due to weak winds.
These were pure search missions and the kite surfer was not
taken on board the helicopter, but brought ashore by an NSRI
boat. Five rescue missions (17%) were injury related. All 30
rescued persons had got too far away from the coast line and,
to our surprise, were not wearing life vests. Mean age was
26 years (range 23–35). There were 27 males and three
females involved in the accidents. All 30 surfers were rescued
successfully and there were no fatal accidents.
The following injuries were observed. Two patients were
hit by their boards and suffered from fractures of the
humerus, ribs, and ankle. Both patients underwent surgery
for their bone fractures. Two other patients were dragged into
the open sea due the kite failing to detach and suffered from
hypothermia and exhaustion. Both patients needed admission
to a hospital critical care unit for their hypothermia. The
fifth injured patient suffered from severe exhaustion and
lacerations and contusions in the head and neck region. He
was treated on an outpatient basis. All five injured
individuals were male.
Figure 1 Kite surfer in action. (A) Typical view of a kite surfer as seen from the beach. (B, C) Close up of a kiter displaying the equipment and
dynamics of this new sport. (D) A jump over the open sea. (E) Sunset jump. (Photographs are reproduced with permission of Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
Cape Town, South Africa.)
Figure 2 A dangerous situation. The surfer is pulled up in the air by his
kite due to strong winds and has lost control over the kite. In this situation
a timely detachment from the kite is crucial to prevent serious injuries.
(Photograph are reproduced with permission of Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
Cape Town, South Africa.)
Figure 3 Combined rescue mission of WSAR with helicopter support
from the AMS.
2 of 4 Exadaktylos, Sclabas, Blake, et al
www.bjsportmed.com
DISCUSSION
Kite surfing is the natural evolution of extreme wind
powered sports such as wind surfing, wake boarding, and
paragliding, and in its short history has brought together the
most exciting components of these activities.1 2 To date the
risk potential of this new sport is unclear. Dangerous
situations can occur even with proper training and safety
precautions due to unpredictable off shore conditions and
difficulties with the equipment. Physicians and rescue crews
are likely to see patients with spinal and chest injuries,
anterior shoulder dislocation, and back pain sustained during
falls when hitting the waves. Further upper and lower
extremities are at risk for fractures caused by hitting kite
boards. Skin lacerations, sun burn, and cranio-facial traumas
will be further injuries associated with kite surfing.
The key to preventing injuries and dangerous situations is
to stress off shore and beach safety. Protective head gear
helps avoid lacerations, concussions, and other brain injuries.
Helmets designed and certified for wind surfing and water
skiing are readily available and have a light, impact resistant
plastic shell and provide adequate peripheral vision and
hearing.3 Kite surfers should always wear helmets because of
the risk of hitting the waves head first. A personal flotation
device is highly recommended and is life saving if the surfer
losses control of the kite and is unable to detach the kite from
the harness and is dragged into the open sea. Furthermore, a
life vest, as well as a wet or dry suit, can prevent
hypothermia. As our data show, none of the rescued persons
was wearing a life vest. Gloves can decrease the risk of
injuries to the hands.
Regarding national sea rescue guidelines, kite surfers
should never venture onto the water in off shore winds.
The best direction is cross shore as in a strong wind with flat
water it is possible to travel at 50 km/h (30 miles/h) or more.
Beginners should turn by going to the shallows or other
stopping area, putting the kite up into neutral, and then
turning the kite in the opposite direction to avoid collisions
with other surfers or people on the beach. An unskilful turn
can cause the surfer to fly, and is often followed by a fall if
the surfer is unable to position the board at the correct angle;
injuries are common.4 ‘‘Flying’’ a kite can be a high impact
contact sport. Flying occurs when the surfer pulls the kite.
The kite is usually 20 m (60 ft) in the air, and a careless turn
in high winds can easily swing the surfer 5 m into the air and
down to uncontrolled contact with other surfers or even the
beach and can cause severe head and neck injuries. This is
extremely dangerous and should never be tried near or above
land. Lightweight people can easily be carried off and
smashed against water, buildings, dunes, and power lines.
A kite board, like a wind surfing board, is considered a
sailing vessel, and so kite surfers must follow the usual rules
of sailing and respect other people in the water. Sailing with a
fellow kiter can ensure that help is available in case of an
accident or equipment failure. Fatal accidents like the case of
a 38 year old who became the first kite surfer to be killed in
Britain in August 2003 after a gust of wind swept him 50 ft
along Calshot beach, near Southampton, and hurled him
head first into a sea wall, are rare but should remind us of the
dangers related to this new trendy sport. More effort should
be taken in the future to make this new exciting water sport
safer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank all the men and women, volunteers, staff,
and donors, who make the life saving work of the Red Cross Air
Mercy Services a reality. We would like to thank Mr Reg Sieberhagen,
one of Cape Town’s finest kite surfers, for using some of his private
surf pictures for this publication.
ELECTRONIC-DATABASE INFORMATION
Information on kite surfing cam be found at http://
encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Kite%20surfing
and at http://sportsvl.com/water/kitesurfing.htm.
Authors’ affiliations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A K Exadaktylos, I Blake, K Swemmer, G McCormick, P Erasmus, South
African Red Cross Air Mercy Service, Cape Town, South Africa
G M Sclabas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Competing interests: none declared.
Photographs are reproduced with permission.
Correspondence to: Dr Aristomenis K Exadaktylos, Department of
Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital
Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; aristomenis@exadaktylos.ch
Accepted 21 December 2004
REFERENCES
1 American Windsurfing Industries. Summary of available research. See
www.maui.net/,hotwind/uska.html (accessed 4 March 2005).
2 Rosenbaum DA, Dietz TE. Windsurfing injuries. Phys Sportsmed,
2002;30(5), available at www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2002/05_02/
rosenbaum.htm.
What this study adds
With this study we hope to shed more light on the frequency,
pattern, and severity of injuries sustained when kite surfing,
one of the trendiest outdoor sports activities in South Africa.
Better understanding of the risk of kite surfing might also help
manufacturers and instructors develop further measures to
prevent serious injuries.
What is already known on this topic
The pattern and frequency of kite surfing injuries are largely
unknown although the sport is similar to other water sports
activities, such as wind surfing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
According to previous studies, a quick release
system enabling the surfer to detach the kite in dangerous
situations might aid in the prevention of injuries.
Table 1 Air rescue services provided by AMS in Western Cape Province
Search and rescue helicopter missions, Alouette III October 1, 2003–May 1, 2004 No. of calls Average airborne time per mission
Requests (mountain and sea rescue) 121 1.9 h
Primary sea rescue for kite surfers supported by the AMS 25 0.6 h
Primary response to rescue calls for kite surfers 5 0.7 h
An analysis of kite surfing rescue missions 3 of 4
www.bjsportmed.com
3 Nickel C, Zernial O, Musahl V, et al. A prospective study of kitesurfing injuries.
Am J Sports Med 2004;32(4):921–7.
4 Petersen W, Hansen U, Zernial O, et al. [Mechanisms and prevention of
kitesurfing injuries]. Sportverletz Sportschaden 2002;16(3):115–21 (in
German).
engaged in the treatment of sports-related injuries should
be encouraged to report on their experience with new
‘‘trendy’’ sports. This will contribute to better knowledge
and to the establishment of adequate safety precautions.
M Muhm
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria;
manfred.muhm@meduniwien.ac.at
This paper describes the complications of the new sport of
kite surfing based on rescue missions in Cape Town. It
should stimulate future research aimed at: (i) estimating
the incidence of complications and therefore the safety of this
sport; (ii) providing better guidelines for the safer use of
equipment; and (iii) improving the safety of the sport by
improving the manufacture of the equipment used.
M Curatolo
Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Therapy, Inselspital,
Bern, Switzerland; Michele.curatolo@insel.ch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The authors describe their experience with injuries related
to a new type of sport, kite surfing. In fact, a rapidly
rising number of new sports have emerged during the
last three decades. Just remember: who knew about
paragliding, mountain-biking, etc, 20 years ago? However,
with the new sports we have to learn about their specific
patterns of injury. As kite surfing is a very new outdoor sport,
we cannot as yet really estimate its risk potential. There are
only very few data on this topic, so the preliminary data
presented by the authors are welcome. All physicians
4 of 4 Exadaktylos, Sclabas, Blake, et al
www.bjsportmed.com
.