Darwin awards - London region

[apollo]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...r-boat-capsizes-on-river-thames-10020907.html

What in gods name was he doing out in the tideway at 7.30pm in the dark.....?

 

[Ramage]

Common sense & rules don't apply to Robos....

 

[Chris_d]

Doesn't say what sort of boat he was in?

 

[Wavey]

What in gods name was he doing out in the tideway at 7.30pm in the dark.....?

Tragic though it is that was my first thought.

The news last night just said the boat was one used for coaching crews.

 

[Actionmat]

That's terrible news, but tragedies like that are inevitable when a cavalier approach is taken to safety. I've been working on my boat while the river was flowing like the clappers and I got the impression that clubs ignore red boards.

 

[Keith 66]

Tragic indeed, As a lifelong boat nut who has experience of both sailing & rowing i cant say im really surprised. Rowing has undergone such a huge boost in numbers over the last 10 years that most available venues across the country are under heavy pressure with too many people for not enough river time. This leads to crews training at what most of us would consider inapropriate times & in conditions that are marginal at best, downright dangerous at worst.
I have been a water safety adviser in a rowing club (estuary) & resigned over an issue where crews insisted on going out into conditions that i considered to be beyond the capability of the boats. They got away with it that time but there have been some close shaves. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the enquiry.
In the meantime thoughts with the blokes family.