This is why we bang on about kill cords . . .

[John Kennett]

I had these pictures emailed to me today, and I thought they might be interesting for people to see. I don't have every last detail, but the basic story is that the person in the photos was helming the RIB and managed to fall out at a fairly low speed. With no kill cord, the boat circled back and hit her.

You can clearly see where the propeller blades made contact. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise how much worse this might have turned out.

[Jizm]

Bloody hell!

Lucky lady...

[mdt]

that looks very nasty.... but as you say not half as bad as it could have been.

VERY LUCKY LADY

[Bigmuz7]

I made a post on Neildas thread about the two worst scenarios of A) seing your boat take off into the distance, or B) getting run over by it and you not getting out of the way fast enough. I dont think some peeps realise how likely scenario B actually is, since, as soon as you let go of non hydraulic steering the outboard will go to full lock, and you will more than likely be right beside the boat as it does so .. so its highly likely you will be in the firing line of a 21 pitch stainless blender doing 10000 odd RPM straight away .. horrific

I hope she isnt scarred for life, must have been a real frightener

[JSP]

I think this should be made into a sticky John.
Hope she heals well!

[neilda]

Jayzus.

Absolutely horrific.

[PeterM]

These pics , put next to Neils 'incident' really do make you stop & think about the 'what ifs' . I'd guess it makes Neil really really really really think what if .........

There is some justification for anyone who may fall out of the boat wearing a kill cord - but you have to keep realistic.

I imagine (and dont want to test it) that if I go over the side the prop will still be spinning down/in gear for a second or so - even if the engine has had its electrics cut ?

It will stop in due course ( so wont come back to have second go) , but not instantly ?

[JSP]

I don't think there will be any strength to the last few revs of the prop once the engine has been stopped. I would have thought it would be just the same as being hit by the hull or gear box. Which is gonna hurt!

[wavelength]

we had a job here years back. Manual start engine-wouldnt fire so sole occupant put more throttle on. It did start this time-in gear! Boat went out from under him and came round and round and clouted him time and time again! Our coastguard vehicle got there dragged him out, guys decided no time to wait for an ambulance and shoved him straight in the CG vehicle and off to hospital with blues and twos on and the guy dripping blood out of every rip and cut in his wetsuit. Horrific. Looked like only his wetsuit was keeping him in one piece- a few interesting scars to say the least.

[bombard]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I had these pictures emailed to me today, and I thought they might be interesting for people to see. I don't have every last detail, but the basic story is that the person in the photos was helming the RIB and managed to fall out at a fairly low speed. With no kill cord, the boat circled back and hit her.

You can clearly see where the propeller blades made contact. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise how much worse this might have turned out.

I was skippering a Draco @ the Southampton boat show in 2002 when i saw a rib with all its crew fall in. NO KILL CORD and unfortuantley one of them died. I dont know how anyone can be so silly not to wear one.