Unexpected Kite Launch

[ricki]

A kiter was recently reported to have had his leg caught in kite lines, was lofted to a considerable height (30 m was reported) and was subsequently dropped to his death near Anapa, Ukraine on the Black Sea during a powerful storm. Gusts on the order of 62 kts. were reported in the area. Several large vessels were sunk or grounded during this severe storm.

Originally Posted by vj

so here comes some details on the accident.........

First of all, it was a really an accident - not because of "irresponsible" attitude to conditions or anything like that.

He measured the wind and realised it was too much for his Takoon Era 7,5. However, hoping that the wind might slow down, so he set up the kite, and was checking the bar setup, with the kite behind him. In a moment a gust moved the kite (which probably was not sanded enough), lines got stretched with one line around the leg and kite went up looping. It was a second and he couldnt do anything - flying up backwards and connected to kite with his leg. Probably it was not 100 ft height.....but the fall was enough to kill him//////////

RIP

From: http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2343552

This tragedy follows others including one that happened 24 years ago in Washington State in the USA. Steve Edeiken was preparing to launch a world record, 14,000 square foot parafoil kite sponsored by Budweiser. After a preceding day of very light wind, a sudden gust of wind unexpectedly launched the kite while Steve was among the kite shrouds. His leg was caught as he was carried about 120 ft. aloft. It was reported that he succeeded in untangling his ankle while still hanging on to the shrouds. The kite then started to oscillate violently side to side eventually throwing Steve away from the kite and to his death. The approximate 2 inch diameter kevlar kite line then parted and the foil folded up and fell to earth.

Life Magazine, November 1983 carried a two page photograph of the tragedy.