Two Injured in "Kite Tubing" Accidents Over
Weekend
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
691 Scenic View Dr.
PO Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040-1507
CONTACT: Kevin Schneider
928-608-6208
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Page, Ariz. – Two people were injured in separate,
unrelated "Kite Tubing" accidents this past weekend at Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area.
In both cases, the victims were riding Kite Tubes
towed by boats when they lost control of the device. The victims
fell into the waters of Lake Powell from heights between 10 and 40
feet.
The first incident occurred on Friday, June 2 at
approximately 2:30 pm near the Bullfrog area. The victim, a 29
year-old male from St. George, Utah, was riding a Kite Tube when he
lost control and fell from a height of 35-40 feet, while moving at
approximately 35-40 mph.
He suffered a broken neck and was flown by
helicopter from the Bullfrog Medical Clinic to St. Mary’s Hospital
in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was the third person in his party
that day to be injured while Kite Tubing. The other two individuals
reported they had minor injuries and were not treated.
On Saturday afternoon, June 3, a 14-year old girl
from Houston, Texas, fell 10-15 feet from her Kite Tube while being
towed at 20-25 mph. She lost consciousness when she struck the
water.
Park rangers immediately responded to the incident
and she was flown by helicopter from Iceberg Canyon to St. Mary’s
Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. After further examination at
the hospital, she was released without serious injuries.
These were the third and fourth accidents this year
at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area involving Kite Tubes. The
first accident occurred on April 7 and resulted in a punctured lung
caused by broken ribs.
On May 22, a second person had injuries to their
chest and back while using a Kite Tube. Both of these incidents
involved Kite Tube riders losing control of the device and falling
into the water while moving at a high rate of speed.
The individuals involved in these accidents were
also transported by helicopter to the hospital.
Kite Tubes are large, round inflated tubes towed by
a boat at 20-40 mph. The user holds onto the Kite Tube as it rises
into the air, 15-60 feet from the surface of the water.
Controlling a Kite Tube is extremely challenging,
and the slightest upset in its balance causes the Kite Tube to fall
into the water. As a newcomer to the market, this is the first
season park rangers at Glen Canyon have observed their use.
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www.nps.gov/glca
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