Wego Kite Tube of Death Accident

Ollie_Lindy · 07-10-2006, 09:21 PM

We bought a Wego Kite Tube. We watched the video & read the warnings. I went first, lost control of the tube & almost dislocated my right shoulder when falling. I am very familiar with water falls from skiing and tubing. My 23 year old daughter went next. She slammed into the water & had the breath knocked out of her. She couldn't breath. I was so frightened for her I couldn't get to her fast enough to get her out of the water. She is a college athlete - in excellent condition and also used to water sports. We followed the manufacturer's instructions exactly regarding speed & use of the tube.

What troubles me is that the manufacturer says not to be used by children under 12 years of age. What 12 year old has sufficient judgement to evaluate the warnings properly and accordingly accept the risk? Almost all products have liability warnings on them (remember McDonald's hot coffee...). It is sometimes impossible to tell if a product is truly dangerous or if the manufacturer is simply issuing warnings to protect against litigation in the event something should happen (even if chances are remote).

I will not permit anyone to use the Wego Kite Tube. I saw first hand for myself that it is extremely, extremely dangerous and I am truly grateful that no one was permanently injured while we learned our lesson. We do not let 12 year olds drive cars, motorcycles, or jet skis for a reason. If someone wants to accept the risk then that person should be 18 or older.

I sincerely hope this product is recalled. I live on a lake and do not look forward to having friends and neighbors seriously injured on this product. From what I saw, it WILL happen, it is only a matter of time.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-10-2006, 09:25 PM

Welcome to the Cellar, Ollie.

Quote:

What 12 year old has sufficient judgement to evaluate the warnings properly and accordingly accept the risk?

Who's driving the boat?

velocityboy · 07-10-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Welcome to the Cellar, Ollie.

Who's driving the boat?

Exactly. I wouldn't let anyone under 18 use mine; my own kid or anyone else's.

I tore my rotator cuff messing around with a power kite. Does that mean nobody should use them? I still do. If you can't take being beaten up a little, then don't use a toy that can beat you up :-)

dar512 · 07-10-2006, 10:17 PM

Maybe it's different now, but I was driving a speedboat when I was 13. I drove while my brother skied and vice versa.

Ollie_Lindy · 07-10-2006, 10:45 PM

The driver read the warnings. Age limit = 12 yrs. Driver assumes okay for 12 yr old to try. Finds out too late (after injury) that 12 year old cannot control the tube. Driver has nothing to do with rider's control if boat is going at prescribed speed. Wind gust can suddenly throw 12 yr old 40 ft into the air. 12 year old does not have sufficient body strength to combat wind gust. Split second incident.

Regarding second rider. It is reasonable to assume that one bad experience does not predict all future experiences. Hence, try again with younger, more athletic rider. It is imperative to understand that two bad experiences in a row, with capable adult riders & boat driver = lesson learned. Third try would be inviting disaster...

Water skiing can be dangerous but typically danger increases with rider's pre-meditated decision to risk maneuvors. Rider does not have ability to make decision regarding maneuvors on kite tube. Rider makes the decision to lift into the air, and wind conditions determine subsequent height in a split second process. Rider can be 2 feet in the air and, with a sudden unexpected wind gust, can suddenly be 40 feet in the air with no balance control & subsequently slammed into the water with the kite tube on top of rider. Trust me, the instructional video does not show this type of occurance. When you watch the video, riders are perfectly balanced and only a few feet in the air. The warnings are there in writing, but one assumes, after watching the video, that they reference possibilities, not every ride probability.

Ollie_Lindy · 07-10-2006, 10:58 PM

CPSC Warns Consumers about Dangers of Tube Kiting
Two Deaths over the Past 3 Months Attributed to New Water Sport
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of the July 4th holiday weekend, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the possible dangers associated with a new type of water recreation known as “tube kiting.”

CPSC is concerned about death and injury reports associated with tube kiting. It is currently investigating two versions of these products to determine if there is a significant product hazard.

Tube kiting is a relatively new form of extreme water sport which is fast growing in popularity, but also extremely dangerous. CPSC is aware of at least two deaths associated with tube kiting this year. A 33-year-old Texas man was killed in late April 2006 while tube kiting, and a 42-year-old man died from injuries associated with tube kiting on June 26, 2006 in Wisconsin.

CPSC is also aware of 12 serious injuries associated with tube kiting. The injuries include a broken neck, punctured lung, broken ribs, broken femur, chest and back injuries, and facial injuries, such as jaw fractures. A 14-year-old girl who was tube kiting lost consciousness when it fell about 15 feet and struck the water.

Tube kites are very large, sometimes round, inflatable water devices that can be more than 10 feet in diameter. The tube is hooked to the back of a boat by a tow rope, and the tube rider pulls back on a rope as the boat travels at speeds between 25 and 35 miles per hour. The ride begins when the tube is lifted into the air trailing the boat. Possible reasons for incidents and injuries include: 1) rider’s difficulty in controlling the tube, 2) boat operator inexperience, and 3) how the tube reacts in certain weather conditions. The conditions of highest concern are wind gusts that can cause the tube to spin out of control, or sudden slowing or stopping by the boat operator, which can cause the tube to nose dive into the water. In some cases, the sudden stopping of the boat might cause the tube rider to continue past the boat and hit it or hit other boats or stationary objects, such as a bridge.

The National Park Service has banned the inflatable devices in at least one of its parks, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which includes Lake Powell where there have been at least four serious injuries.

Elspode · 07-10-2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie_Lindy

What 12 year old has sufficient judgement to evaluate the warnings properly and accordingly accept the risk?

What 12 year old has unsupervised access to a Wego Kite Tube and a boat to pull it? Duh.

Another question. If you got zapped on the first ride, why did anyone ever take the second ride?

Next contestant, please...

jinx · 07-10-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie_Lindy

Almost all products have liability warnings on them (remember McDonald's hot coffee...). It is sometimes impossible to tell if a product is truly dangerous or if the manufacturer is simply issuing warnings to protect against litigation in the event something should happen (even if chances are remote).

The McDonalds hot coffee lady received 3rd degree burns over 6% of her body, which required debridement and skin grafts because she was served coffee that was 180-190 degrees. Since most people drink coffee at 140 or so, no one should be expected assume that they'll be disfigured if they spill. I'm glad she got a settlement.

If you hurt yourself hot-dogging around a lake on a flying tube with warnings and skulls all over it, pulled behind a speed boat, I think you should be on your own with that.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-11-2006, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

The McDonalds hot coffee lady received 3rd degree burns over 6% of her body, which required debridement and skin grafts because she was served coffee that was 180-190 degrees. Since most people drink coffee at 140 or so, no one should be expected assume that they'll be disfigured if they spill. I'm glad she got a settlement.

140 degrees will also burn you, although not as severely. She held the Styrofoam(?) or paper(?) cup by squeezing it between her legs. That's stupid. I doubt if it's possible to hold a full cup there, while using both hands to do other things, without spilling it?

07-10-2006, 10:17 PM	#4
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Maybe it's different now, but I was driving a speedboat when I was 13. I drove while my brother skied and vice versa. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

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07-10-2006, 09:21 PM	#1
Ollie_Lindy Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6	We bought a Wego Kite Tube. We watched the video & read the warnings. I went first, lost control of the tube & almost dislocated my right shoulder when falling. I am very familiar with water falls from skiing and tubing. My 23 year old daughter went next. She slammed into the water & had the breath knocked out of her. She couldn't breath. I was so frightened for her I couldn't get to her fast enough to get her out of the water. She is a college athlete - in excellent condition and also used to water sports. We followed the manufacturer's instructions exactly regarding speed & use of the tube. What troubles me is that the manufacturer says not to be used by children under 12 years of age. What 12 year old has sufficient judgement to evaluate the warnings properly and accordingly accept the risk? Almost all products have liability warnings on them (remember McDonald's hot coffee...). It is sometimes impossible to tell if a product is truly dangerous or if the manufacturer is simply issuing warnings to protect against litigation in the event something should happen (even if chances are remote). I will not permit anyone to use the Wego Kite Tube. I saw first hand for myself that it is extremely, extremely dangerous and I am truly grateful that no one was permanently injured while we learned our lesson. We do not let 12 year olds drive cars, motorcycles, or jet skis for a reason. If someone wants to accept the risk then that person should be 18 or older. I sincerely hope this product is recalled. I live on a lake and do not look forward to having friends and neighbors seriously injured on this product. From what I saw, it WILL happen, it is only a matter of time.

07-10-2006, 10:45 PM	#5
Ollie_Lindy Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6	The driver read the warnings. Age limit = 12 yrs. Driver assumes okay for 12 yr old to try. Finds out too late (after injury) that 12 year old cannot control the tube. Driver has nothing to do with rider's control if boat is going at prescribed speed. Wind gust can suddenly throw 12 yr old 40 ft into the air. 12 year old does not have sufficient body strength to combat wind gust. Split second incident. Regarding second rider. It is reasonable to assume that one bad experience does not predict all future experiences. Hence, try again with younger, more athletic rider. It is imperative to understand that two bad experiences in a row, with capable adult riders & boat driver = lesson learned. Third try would be inviting disaster... Water skiing can be dangerous but typically danger increases with rider's pre-meditated decision to risk maneuvors. Rider does not have ability to make decision regarding maneuvors on kite tube. Rider makes the decision to lift into the air, and wind conditions determine subsequent height in a split second process. Rider can be 2 feet in the air and, with a sudden unexpected wind gust, can suddenly be 40 feet in the air with no balance control & subsequently slammed into the water with the kite tube on top of rider. Trust me, the instructional video does not show this type of occurance. When you watch the video, riders are perfectly balanced and only a few feet in the air. The warnings are there in writing, but one assumes, after watching the video, that they reference possibilities, not every ride probability.

07-10-2006, 10:58 PM	#6
Ollie_Lindy Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6	CPSC Warns Consumers about Dangers of Tube Kiting Two Deaths over the Past 3 Months Attributed to New Water Sport WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of the July 4th holiday weekend, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the possible dangers associated with a new type of water recreation known as “tube kiting.” CPSC is concerned about death and injury reports associated with tube kiting. It is currently investigating two versions of these products to determine if there is a significant product hazard. Tube kiting is a relatively new form of extreme water sport which is fast growing in popularity, but also extremely dangerous. CPSC is aware of at least two deaths associated with tube kiting this year. A 33-year-old Texas man was killed in late April 2006 while tube kiting, and a 42-year-old man died from injuries associated with tube kiting on June 26, 2006 in Wisconsin. CPSC is also aware of 12 serious injuries associated with tube kiting. The injuries include a broken neck, punctured lung, broken ribs, broken femur, chest and back injuries, and facial injuries, such as jaw fractures. A 14-year-old girl who was tube kiting lost consciousness when it fell about 15 feet and struck the water. Tube kites are very large, sometimes round, inflatable water devices that can be more than 10 feet in diameter. The tube is hooked to the back of a boat by a tow rope, and the tube rider pulls back on a rope as the boat travels at speeds between 25 and 35 miles per hour. The ride begins when the tube is lifted into the air trailing the boat. Possible reasons for incidents and injuries include: 1) rider’s difficulty in controlling the tube, 2) boat operator inexperience, and 3) how the tube reacts in certain weather conditions. The conditions of highest concern are wind gusts that can cause the tube to spin out of control, or sudden slowing or stopping by the boat operator, which can cause the tube to nose dive into the water. In some cases, the sudden stopping of the boat might cause the tube rider to continue past the boat and hit it or hit other boats or stationary objects, such as a bridge. The National Park Service has banned the inflatable devices in at least one of its parks, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which includes Lake Powell where there have been at least four serious injuries.

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