Experiened Kite Boarder Dies on Lake Union During High Winds
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 6:55 pm
One of the most serious emergency calls came at 5:30 p.m. from a Lake Washington kite boarder who watched as another boarder was dragged north by the gusting wind.
A Seattle police patrol boat found the 44-year-old boarder floating face down about half a mile from the Kirkland marina, Officer Jeff Kappel said. When rescuers pulled the Seattle man from the water he was unresponsive and not breathing.
Police aboard the Harbor Patrol boat performed CPR on the man, as did medics who rushed him to Harborview Medical Center. Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the man did not regain consciousness on the trip to the hospital.
Stowing his gear at Magnuson Park just before sundown, kite boarder Larry Breuer said the thoughts and prayers of the rest of the boarders were with the victim and his family.
Breuer, who's been in the sport nearly a year, was one of a number of boarders out on Lake Washington as the wind picked up Thursday afternoon. He said sustained wind speeds were not particularly severe, but that some gusts might have topped 40 mph.
"When you're out there, you're one with the environment," Breuer said.
The kiteboarder who died Thursday on Lake Washington had spent most of his life on the water.
The medical examiner says 46-year old Daniel Bergin drowned when he was dragged by gusting winds.
Bergin's websites say he began sailing at age two, was a Delta Airlines pilot, and taught skiing and snowboarding.
He was an employee of Windworks Sailing Center at Shilshole Bay.
A Seattle police patrol boat found the 44-year-old boarder floating face down about half a mile from the Kirkland marina, Officer Jeff Kappel said. When rescuers pulled the Seattle man from the water he was unresponsive and not breathing.
Police aboard the Harbor Patrol boat performed CPR on the man, as did medics who rushed him to Harborview Medical Center. Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the man did not regain consciousness on the trip to the hospital.
Stowing his gear at Magnuson Park just before sundown, kite boarder Larry Breuer said the thoughts and prayers of the rest of the boarders were with the victim and his family.
Breuer, who's been in the sport nearly a year, was one of a number of boarders out on Lake Washington as the wind picked up Thursday afternoon. He said sustained wind speeds were not particularly severe, but that some gusts might have topped 40 mph.
"When you're out there, you're one with the environment," Breuer said.
The kiteboarder who died Thursday on Lake Washington had spent most of his life on the water.
The medical examiner says 46-year old Daniel Bergin drowned when he was dragged by gusting winds.
Bergin's websites say he began sailing at age two, was a Delta Airlines pilot, and taught skiing and snowboarding.
He was an employee of Windworks Sailing Center at Shilshole Bay.
