Boy injured tubing.

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

From: The Citizen.com.

Injured boy identified after tubing accident
Moultonborough:

By VICTORIA GUAY
vguay@citizen.com
vguay@citizen.com
Sunday, July 18, 2010

MOULTONBOROUGH — The 12-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a tubing accident Friday has been identified as David Angelini Jr., 12, from Windham.

He remained in critical condition Saturday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, according to New Hampshire Marine Patrol.

Angelini sustained serious head injuries when the inner tube that he and another boy, Ryan Dzengelewski, 11, of Peabody, Mass., were being towed by a personal watercraft in, collided with a moored boat on Lake Kanasatka, near the beach at Maple Cottages, where Angelini had been staying with family.

The operator of personal watercraft was identified Saturday as Michael O'Neil, 46, of Peabody, Mass., a relative of Angelini.

Marine Patrol said the accident, which happened just after 3:20 p.m. Friday, occurred as O'Neil was pulling the inner tube between a swim raft and an unoccupied, moored boat when the tube was suddenly whipped in the direction of the boat, colliding with its hull.

With the accident occurring around the same time as a cell of thunderstorms hit the area, emergency medical transport helicopters from three regional hospitals, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon and Portland, Maine and Boston, Mass., were unable to respond to transport Angelini.

Instead, local police escorted an ambulance to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, and the boy was later rushed to Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

The accident is still under investigation, Marine Patrol said, but they have determined that alcohol was not a factor.

-0-

Echoing thoughts and prayers for the injured fellow and all involved.

[Mashugana]

I feel so bad about this accident. How do we prevent this kind of situation? Was it a boat malfunction or operator inexperience or what ? I assume there is a 150' rule on that lake.

I pray that this kid pulls through with no long term affects.

[VitaBene]

Unfortunately, it sounds like operator error. If he were obeying the 150' rule and has a standard tubing rope (50 or 60') he should not have been able to whip the tube near enough to hit an object.

I feel so bad for all involved, a mistake made in the name of having fun.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

Unfortunately, it sounds like operator error. If he were obeying the 150' rule and has a standard tubing rope (50 or 60') he should not have been able to whip the tube near enough to hit an object.

I feel so bad for all involved, a mistake made in the name of having fun.

I'd written previously about a "tandem-tow", where two ski ropes together put the second tuber about 150' behind the boat.

It's also likely that no PWC has the power (plus mass) to "whip" the tuber off the tube; however, I have seen a tube "catch the wind", accelerate rapidly (through "whip action") and skitter the tuber (now minus the tube) across the water's surface at a very impressive speed.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

I'd written previously about a "tandem-tow", where two ski ropes together put the second tuber about 150' behind the boat.

It's also likely that no PWC has the power (plus mass) to "whip" the tuber off the tube; however, I have seen a tube "catch the wind", accelerate rapidly (through "whip action") and skitter the tuber (now minus the tube) across the water's surface at a very impressive speed.

APS, a quick Google search shows multiple PWCs with well in excess of 150 HP in a 10' package. My 23' BR with 270HP IO is more than capable of getting the whip going so I would think most newer jetskis can.

[Winnipesaukee]

This is worse than cases where children have drowned in bath tubs or pools.

This person was directly responsible for almost killing not only his own child (I assume), but someone else's child! How do you screw up this bad as a parent and human being? What kind of lapse in judgment must it take? Just unbelievable.

One other thing: the fact that the 150' rule was broken is not the problem here. There are states without this law and they seem to be doing just fine. 150' was just New Hampshire's method of ensuring safe boating practices with a concrete (on paper) buffer zone.

The sheer stupidity of the clown behind the wheel was 100% the reason this tragic act of negligence happened.

edit:

I just read through some of the responses. LIforrelaxin, are you insinuating that as long as alcohol is not involved, you are willing to accept, or dismiss this as "just an accident?" These are a couple of kids barely 10 years old that he almost killed. I almost hope alcohol was involved; how pathetic would it be if this guy completely failed at his most important job when he was sober?

This type of thing enrages me! Why is nobody else as bothered by this as me? This guy belongs in prison.

[SAMIAM]

There is some good news.......the child is out of the coma and his trach tube has been removed.There seems to be no sign of permanent brain damage.
Hopefully,he'll continue to recover.
The uncle who was driving is suffering greatly........a lesson for all of us to keep safety in mind every minute when you are out there.

[sunset on the dock]

Good news indeed...we'll hope for the best for all involved.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Skipper of the Sea Que

By VICTORIA GUAY

Marine Patrol said the accident, which happened just after 3:20 p.m. Friday, occurred as O'Neil was pulling the inner tube between a swim raft and an unoccupied, moored boat when the tube was suddenly whipped in the direction of the boat, colliding with its hull.

First and foremost I hope this young man recovers I am sure his young body got quite traumatized. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May God be with all of them at this time.


Now I do have extreme problems with the above statement from this reporter. Depending on my mood this afternoon, it may even spark me to call or write to the News paper... If this was her poetic license it was a horrible way to word things. If it was something actually implied by the Marine Patrol, she needs to site her source. Tubes don't "suddenly whip in the direction" of anything, the operator of the boat, or in this case watercraft controls where that tube is head through the vessels movements. This was an operator error on the part of the operator of the Jet Ski, I am sorry to hear that this is a relative of the young boy because that makes the situation all the harder on the family. On that same note being a family member I also truly can sit back and believe that this was an accident as long as Alcohol was not involved. Avoidable by following the 150' rule as it was, it was an accident.

May this young man Fully recover, and ride the tube safely again....

[sunset on the dock]

I hope the fact that we've heard nothing in 3 days means there will be good news.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Did we not just have a discussion on towing laws wrt a PWC ? Infractions ...

1) 150' rule where it really, really counts (next to unmoving boats and shore and in general where swimmers are likely to be, like a swim raft)
2a) Either 2 towees and not enough spotters or
2b) Not enough seats on board to haul everyone "home".

I'll add #3 (though there's isn't an RSA to cover it) ...

3) Not enough brains to operate a paddleboat, which all this moron should be allowed to drive.

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

3) Not enough brains to operate a paddleboat, which all this moron should be allowed to drive.

Guess I'll have to eventually agree with #3 though I'll hold back a bit until I know this kid is OK. We have an 11 y/o ourselves so this really hits home. At least alcohol was ruled out...got to be thankful for the small things here.