South Hill Fire Chief talks ‘heartbreaking’ death of kayaker in pond
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — First responders are urging the community to be safe and smart around the water during this holiday season. Their message comes after a man died while kayaking in Mecklenburg County over the weekend. “Heartbreaking -- we just celebrated Thanksgiving with our families and now someone has lost a loved one, and that's what always bothers us,” said South Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Vaughan. Firefighters at the South Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded a large pond just off West Atlantic Street -- about a mile away from them -- around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, after receiving several calls about a kayaker who went into the water and never resurfaced. PREVIOUS: Person dead after reported kayaking incident in pond outside of South Hill “We wouldn't normally see kayakers this time of the year," Vaughn said. "We do get -- sometimes, where the weather will get [to] a 70 or 75-degree day, [then] you may have some folks out there. But this was unusual and it was cool and breezy that day.” After investigators were on the scene for a few hours, the man's body was found in the water. According to South Hill Fire, the man's death is believed to be a result of the water temperature, which was reportedly 46 degrees at the time. (Photo courtesy: South Hill Volunteer Fire Department)Crews responding to a pond off of Highway 47 just outside the town of South Hill after receiving reports that a person never returned to the water's surface after their kayak overturned on Saturday, Nov. 30. (Photo courtesy: South Hill Volunteer Fire Department) In the wake of this tragedy, Vaughn and officials like him are reminding you to be safe on the water. “We have cold weather suits, we have dry suits -- things that we need to go out and perform these rescues," Vaughn said of how firefighters keep themselves safe. "But we would suggest that, if [you've] got to be out ... you make sure you have someone with you. Don't go by yourself." That's his top tip: don't be on the water alone. He also shared a second valuable tip, one that's well-known yet still often forgotten. “Let your family, friends know that you're going out if you’re going to be on the water," Vaughn said. Finally, he encouraged people to think about the risks that colder temperatures create when you're on the water. "Once you hit that water, there's a potential for you to go into shock ... we believe that's what's ultimately happened at this point with this gentleman that was in the water, and he never returned to the surface," Vaughn said.
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MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — First responders are urging the community to be safe and smart around the water during this holiday season. Their message comes after a man died while kayaking in Mecklenburg County over the weekend.
“Heartbreaking -- we just celebrated Thanksgiving with our families and now someone has lost a loved one, and that's what always bothers us,” said South Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Vaughan.
Firefighters at the South Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded a large pond just off West Atlantic Street -- about a mile away from them -- around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, after receiving several calls about a kayaker who went into the water and never resurfaced.
PREVIOUS: Person dead after reported kayaking incident in pond outside of South Hill
“We wouldn't normally see kayakers this time of the year," Vaughn said. "We do get -- sometimes, where the weather will get [to] a 70 or 75-degree day, [then] you may have some folks out there. But this was unusual and it was cool and breezy that day.”
After investigators were on the scene for a few hours, the man's body was found in the water. According to South Hill Fire, the man's death is believed to be a result of the water temperature, which was reportedly 46 degrees at the time.
(Photo courtesy: South Hill Volunteer Fire Department)
Crews responding to a pond off of Highway 47 just outside the town of South Hill after receiving reports that a person never returned to the water's surface after their kayak overturned on Saturday, Nov. 30. (Photo courtesy: South Hill Volunteer Fire Department)
In the wake of this tragedy, Vaughn and officials like him are reminding you to be safe on the water.
“We have cold weather suits, we have dry suits -- things that we need to go out and perform these rescues," Vaughn said of how firefighters keep themselves safe. "But we would suggest that, if [you've] got to be out ... you make sure you have someone with you. Don't go by yourself."
That's his top tip: don't be on the water alone. He also shared a second valuable tip, one that's well-known yet still often forgotten.
“Let your family, friends know that you're going out if you’re going to be on the water," Vaughn said.
Finally, he encouraged people to think about the risks that colder temperatures create when you're on the water.
"Once you hit that water, there's a potential for you to go into shock ... we believe that's what's ultimately happened at this point with this gentleman that was in the water, and he never returned to the surface," Vaughn said.
