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Halifax Canoe Club |
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Competition NEW!
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Canoeist
killed on the River Calder Most members will now be aware
that a canoeist (not a member of HXCC ) was killed in a tragic accident on the
River Calder on Saturday 1st March. Our condolences and thoughts go
to family and friends of those involved in this incident. A tragedy such as this raises
obvious concerns for members regarding their own or their family members safety
while participating in canoeing, particularly when this incident happened on our
home river and at a weir many of us have shot. Here we look at what we know
about what happened and the implications for you and your safety. What
happened? It seems the party of 4 men set
off on the river paddling inflatable canoes not designed for white water use. The accident occurred as they
attempted to negotiate the V shaped weir at Ellen Holme ( by-weir VTL Automotive
and also known as Sagar Richards Weir) It appears that all the paddlers were
thrown from their craft as they negotiated the weir and became trapped in the
stopper. The deceased attempted to stay
afloat while trapped in the stopper. He was taken to hospital and pronounced
dead some time later. What
does it mean for you? It is often said that canoeing
is an ‘assumed risk activity’- what this means is that it can be potentially
dangerous and you should know and accept the risks involved before
participating. Alright but if you
are new to the sport, or just inexperienced how do you know what the risks are? This is one area where there
really is no substitute for experience. HXCC advocates initially learning to
canoe and progressing on to white water under the supervision of qualified
coaches. This way you build up your experience, skills and knowledge in a safe
manner. A good coach or river leader should always be happy to answer your
questions, such as explaining why they are running a rapid certain way, setting
up safety, or, what the dangers of a section of river are. This also extends to offering
advice on appropriate equipment and ensuring everyone is properly equipped for
the activity. This incident happened on a
weir. Weirs have no grading- they are either safe to run or not safe. The
problem is that water levels can make a massive difference and a weir that is
safe at one level can be very dangerous or even lethal at a different water
level. Another area of training any
white water paddler should consider is going on a white water safety and rescue
course- learning about swimming in moving water and how to rescue people. Obviously as a Club we put an
emphasis on safety, and do our utmost to ensure that all our activities take
place safely and that we educate our members about the dangers involved in the
sport and how these can be minimised. If any members have any concerns or
questions regarding safety they should speak to one of the Club’s coaches or
one of the Club’s committee. |
