08/12/2022
Every paddleboarder needs to read this report!
Never ever take a SUP into a weir or a lock. Get out and walk round!
This report has made me exceptionally angry but also exceptionally sad. 4 people lost their lives because of one companyโs stupidity and negligence.
These people did not need to die!
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The MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Board) have completed their report into the tragic incident on the River Cleddau at Haverford West where 4 paddleboarders lost their lives.
It's a very hard read, and concludes that this was an entirely avoidable incident, and 4 paddleboarders lost their lives needlessly.
Our hearts go out to those affected whose pain will be reawakened by this report.
It's very easy to focus on the findings about the trip itself and the actions of the instructors and the group. And no doubt that's where the media will focus their attention.
However, if there was effective governance for paddleboarding, if the sports councils had been doing their job, if the Olympic Federations hadn't been bickering about who 'owns' paddleboarding, then it is possible, if not likely, that better governance would have been in place, and this trip wouldn't have happened in the way it did, and this incident wouldn't have happened.
There have already been too many delays, lives have been, and will continue to be lost needlessly.
It's now time for these three recommendations to be delivered without delay. We're really pleased to have been part of the initiative spearheaded by Sam Foyle and Andrew Kay, and picked up by British Canoeing, RNLI and others to develop an industry wide safety campaign. But this must be underpinned with the governance changes recommended by the MAIB.
Please stay safe everyone.
AND WEAR A QUICK RELEASE WAIST BELT AND PFD.
https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/commerical-stand-up-paddleboarding-accident-on-river-weir-with-loss-of-4-lives
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