posted on June 16, 2003 01:26:26 PM new
A hidden hazard, a boy's death
A hidden hazard, a boy's death
By Jocelyn Wiener -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Sunday, June 15, 2003
When 11-year-old Anthony Farr disappeared into Folsom Lake while bodysurfing behind a ski boat on the evening of May 28, his father, Mike, thought his child was the victim of a freak accident.
Then a relative told Farr, 27, about carbon monoxide poisoning. He immediately started researching.
What he found surprised and angered him: In recent years, dozens of deaths have been linked to carbon monoxide poisonings on or near ski boats. Most of the victims have been children. Many, like Anthony, were bodysurfing, also called "teak surfing" for the teak swim boards behind the boat.
posted on June 16, 2003 02:10:25 PM new
Have not heard much about it on ski boats probably because "teak surfing " is not that common. About a year ago either 20/20 or primetime live did a show about this happening on party barges. People rent them for the week or weekend and they are left running for the ac or some other reason and swimmers pile in behind the boat where the carbon monxide builds up. It has resulted in many deaths and changes in manufacturing of house boats. A terrible tragedy and very sad.
posted on June 16, 2003 03:03:12 PM new "Around 7:30 p.m., as the group made its way back to shore, Anthony climbed into the water and grabbed the right-hand side of the swim deck, as he had done perhaps 50 times before."
Sitting or hanging off the swim platform while a boat is running is very dangerous. A water skier is at a safe distance from the fumes but in this case, the boy was hanging onto the swim platform while the boat engine was running. The exhaust vents are right underneath the swim platform so the fumes were blowing in his face.
Exhaust leaks inside cabin cruisers may also result in carbon monoxide poisoning. I know of one case in which a woman was sleeping inside the boat while her husband was driving on the bridge. When he docked the boat, he found her dead.
posted on June 17, 2003 09:11:38 AM new
It really does not take much. the cause of death in most of those cases is drowning. The CM renders them unconcious and of course the result of that is obvious. I was also suprised at the frequency of this happening when it was reported on 20/20. The newer watercrafts have some safeguards now in place ( I am speaking of the houseboats not ski boats) but all those weekend rentals are still out there and as dangerous as ever if not properly instructed.
