The Marine Casualty Investigation Board says that all participants in adventure activity should undertake basic training on rescue and survival techniques and basic first aid.
Participants should also ensure a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking river, lake and open-sea canoe or kayak trips, according to the board, in its report on the deaths of two canoeists on the river Barrow last October.
Neil Byrne and Martin Roche drowned on October 30th when the group which they were canoeing with got into difficulties at St Mullins Weir on the Barrow.
The river was swollen with rainwater at the time, following severe weather conditions on the south coast, and a normally placid section at St Mullins was deeper than usual and marked by large amounts of floating debris.
The two paddlers were accompanied by four others in an inflatable dinghy which had no outboard motor and was propelled by two paddles. The dinghy and canoes shot the weir successfully, and the dinghy party was heading back upriver to watch the canoeists repeat the experience when they noticed that they were in difficulty.
Both had become trapped in the "stopper", a violent backwash of water which curves out of the weir and back against the downriver flood.
The board notes both men were wearing personal flotation devices, rather than lifejackets. Buoyancy aids allow freedom of movement, but are not designed to float an unconscious person to ensure their airways are clear of water. The devices were also dark and had no reflective panels. The party in the dinghy had no throw bag or weighted line to fling to someone in difficulty in the water.
