See anything wrong with this picture?

[dingbat]

Moments later, both where thown from the boat. The drive survied but the guy on the bow, wtihout a life jacket, was found dead a later that afternoon


Crews finds body of missing boater
North Jetty at Rudee Inlet
Updated: Friday, 28 Aug 2009, 2:58 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 28 Aug 2009, 9:44 AM EDT

VIRIGNIA BEACH, Va. - Beach police tell WAVY.com they've found the body of a boater who went missing Friday morning. Police say the boater was not wearing a life vest when he fell off a boat at Rudee Inlet.

Virginia Beach emergency crews responded to a swimmer in distress call at around 8 a.m., Bruce Nedelka, with Virginia Beach EMS told WAVY.com. About two hours later, at 10:28 a.m., Virginia Beach Fire Department divers recovered the victim's body.

The victim has been identified as 31-year-old Tong Xiao. He was boating with another man identified as Weixhon Zheng.

Nedelka tells us Xiao and Zheng were out in a boat near the north end of the jetty at Rudee Inlet when a big wave came along and knocked Xiao out of the boat. Nedelka says Xiao may have hit his head when he fell from the boat, which may have contributed to his death.

EMS volunteer and Marine Rescue teams, along with the Beach Police Dive Team and the Coast Guard assisted in the recovery mission.

A 45-foot rescue boat crew from Station Little Creek was also launched to assist the search. According to the US Coast Guard, an MH-60J Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City was conducting a training flight when they heard the broadcast and diverted to also aid in the search.

Two boat crews and a helicopter crew from the VBPD were on scene, and two Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 MH-60S Sea Hawk crews assisted with the search.

Virginia Beach police spokesman Jimmy Barnes would like to remind boaters and anyone near water to please be safe and wear a life vest. He says, know your limitations and always consider the weather and sea conditions before heading out.

 

[MushCreek]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

General rule of thumb- when the waves are BIGGER than your boat, ya might want to consider a PFD....

 

[dingbat]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

General rule of thumb- when the waves are BIGGER than your boat, ya might want to consider a PFD....

Look in the background; it was flat other than the rogue wave that took his life. You should wear a PFD on no matter what the condtions are.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Look in the background; it was flat other than the rogue wave that took his life. You should wear a PFD on no matter what the condtions are.

For sure-
Stupid will get you eventually

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

That picture doesn't look authentic, the guy on the bow with his back to the wave seems oblivious, I would be in crash position for sure, could that be the wake from a large craft that went by too close?

 

[dingbat]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

That picture doesn't look authentic, the guy on the bow with his back to the wave seems oblivious, I would be in crash position for sure, could that be the wake from a large craft that went by too close?

The picture is very authentic. The photo was taken by a bystander at Rudee Inlet right before the accident happened.

Those types of waves are a fairly common occurance. You don't hear them. Come in waves of three typically. All you can do is power into them at an angle and hope they don't break on you.

In this case, the accident is being blamed on swells off "Danny". The operator may be facing charges of negligence in the accident for obvious reasons.

 

[pmat1]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

is he sitting on one of the gunwhales?

 

[dingbat]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

is he sitting on one of the gunwhales?

He is sitting on the gunwale but that wasn't his fatal mistake.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

That picture doesn't look authentic, the guy on the bow with his back to the wave seems oblivious, I would be in crash position for sure, could that be the wake from a large craft that went by too close?

The story is real... There's a link in this thread to the news story. The guy sitting on the bow just didn't see it, and paid for that with his life.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/241776-our-worst-nightmare.html

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

If I wear my PFD in unknown waters at all times, and if I am familiar with waters that typically see that kind of wave I wear two PFD's.

It's sad, but even the best off us can be complacent. My guess is they've either never been out there and were just stupid, or they've been out a hundred times and got complacent (which everyone can be guilty of at least once!).

Is it me, or is the stern of that boat really low in the water as well?

Ian

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Those types of waves are a fairly common occurance. You don't hear them. Come in waves of three typically. All you can do is power into them at an angle and hope they don't break on you.

So, how much of an angle would you aproach this wave at? I know that you don't want to hit the head on. Would it be the same angle I use for a smoother ride over choppy water? I know each boat is different.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

I believe (but have been wrong in the past) 45-50 degree angle is best, which appears to be about what the picture shows as well.

Ian

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Looking at the technical view, the foreground shows the crest of a sizable
wave. The boaters know they are in waves.

The bow shows little wake, so they are moving forward with little power.

The bigger background wave is going to hit the boat at about a 50 degree angle,
and that would rock the boat severely. If the bow would have been
direct into the waves, their effect would not have been as severe.

Very unfortunate.

 

[RoyR]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Sad indeed....but the skipper is at fault here. With that boat, I would have taken that wave head on, trim down and got my passenger to sit on the floor and hold on! That wave is not that big, then again, this is how we do it:

http://www.makoinflatablesusa.com/7.8M_photo3.html

 

[jkust]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Looks photoshopped.

 

[werthert]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

The picture does look weird but taking the OP's word that it's real, even getting thrown out of a boat should not get you killed. That part doesn't make sense, pfd or not, that looked to be the last wave and after that easy to tread water and move yourself back over to the boat. Even if it's overturned you can hold on to it. The guy looks fit and healthy enough to at least survive the initial chaos. Something is missing from this or it's just a weird one-off freak accident.

Sucks if real.

 

[skargo]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Typical boating death. No PFD, sitting on a gunwale in big water.

I've said it many times, but when we are out, 95% of the other boaters we pass are NOT wearing PFDs while under power.

On my boat, if it's moving, EVERYONE on board is wearing one.

 

[skargo]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

Plus he left his fender out.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

The picture does look weird but taking the OP's word that it's real, even getting thrown out of a boat should not get you killed. That part doesn't make sense, pfd or not, that looked to be the last wave and after that easy to tread water and move yourself back over to the boat. Even if it's overturned you can hold on to it. The guy looks fit and healthy enough to at least survive the initial chaos. Something is missing from this or it's just a weird one-off freak accident.

Sucks if real.

I heard that he hit his head on the boat as he was thrown out. If that happened and he was knocked unconicious and not wearing a life jacket then you can easily understand why he didn't survive.

If this picture is real, which I believe it is, the thing that bothers me most is this guy is just enjoying being out on the boat. He is all relaxed and has no idea that in 30 seconds his life is over. I guess that this should be a lesson to never become complacent. Respect the water and stay alive!

 

[dingbat]

Re: See anything wrong with this picture?

I believe (but have been wrong in the past) 45-50 degree angle is best, which appears to be about what the picture shows as well.

Ian

A 45 degree approach would roll you in a heart beat. No more than 30 degrees. In this case, head-on would have been my choice.

Notice his motor is picked up and the wave is breaking. Both are signs of him being in shallow water. From what I understand he got himself into shallow water and once you do that you?re doomed. No water to maneuver in and the waves start breaking.