[Chancellor Palpatine]

Damn - I knew that CO buildup was dangerous in the cabin, but this is a new one by me. It does make sense, though - CO being heavy and all.

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[tdadams]

Sounds like just another excuse for a liberal newspaper to put the kibosh on anything that's fun.

[alisasny]

Bottom line is the kid should have been wearing a vest. Really no excuse for that. The kid was only 11 and while perhaps a good swimmer could he swim all the way to shore with no vest? What if he hit his head and sunk?

[Piquaboy]

There is only one remedy. Confiscate all the boats.

[dennisw]

I find this hard to believe that CO can have any effect in the great outdoors. It has to be easier to be hit by a meteorite than to be killed by CO coming off a boat engine.

This is lawyer propelled OBVIOUSLY!

[pabianice]

BAN BOATS! If it saves just one child...

[clamper1797]

What an absolute pantload ...

[stainlessbanner]

45 deaths nationwide since 1990

How many wore life vests? How many were Coast Guard certified to operate a boat?

There's more to this story

[N. Theknow]

Did this happen on a SUB?

Sport Utility Boat

[FourPeas]

How tragic. It sounds more like a weird fluke than any sort of terrible danger for which anyone should be sued. I don't have a problem with the kid not wearing a life vest. At that age, I was a strong enough swimmer that I wouldn't have needed a vest to stay afloat for long, long periods of time -- as long as I wasn't poisoned with carbon monoxide.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The CO situation is dangerous, but I can't believe that any responsible, rational minded boat owner (let alone a parent!) would allow this activity, as described, to be performed behind his boat.

"Honestly, I thought it was the safest thing I've done in my boat," said Sean McKune, 29, Farr's neighbor and the owner of the ski boat.

To me, this statement proves that Sean McKune is a fool and needs to attend some Power Squadron training.

Without the traditional tether to the person in the wake, the possiblity is very good that the surfer could go under and be dragged along under the water and not be able to surface. Long enough to drown even without help from the CO. Very much like being caught in an undertow.

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Sounds like another national crisis. Time for the Federal Boating and Water Safety Department.

[mtbopfuyn]

This is ridiculous. The boy should have been wearing a life vest. This body surfing this has got to be the stupidist thing I've heard today. We ALWAYS tell everyone NOT to get close to anywhere near the back of the boat unless the propellor has stopped. Yes, there are gas fumes so could be CO or whatever but I wouldn't know. I do know that 1) anyone skiing or other water sport should have on a vest, 2) you do not come anywhere near near a running propeller.

[budwiesest]

Thanks for posting this. I was under the impression that he was being pulled on one of those floats that are dragged behind a boat. This happened about fifteen minutes from where I live.

[Timmy]

Tragic. But the guy is a moron and is primarily responsible for letting his 11-year old do this without a vest. Lakes are dangerous. Period.

[ikka]

outdoor CO poisoning from boat exhaust has caused or contributed to more than 45 deaths nationwide since 1990, which is as far back as investigators have searched for past incidents.

OK, this is responsible for less than 3 deaths a year, nationwide, in a country with over 200 million population. And this requires a set of restrictive laws?

[y2k_free_radical]

Thanks 4 info-i'm a pathologists and didn't know these facts.

[stainlessbanner]

"Honestly, I thought it was the safest thing I've done in my boat," said Sean McKun

Bodysurfing behind the boat whether inboard or not is stupid. I've seen too many accidents while boaters were practicing safety measures - no need to increase the risk. Skiing with no life jacket is irresponsible - just as hanging off the swim platform while the boat is operating. The rigs are not designed to do this.

Would've been a non issue if he scurfed/ski'd/wakeboarded behind the boat at a safe distance. On my boat I'm the captain - that's the first rule....and I am familiar with safety measures, laws, and local regulations. I take responsibility for the crew on my boat, just as this man should.

 

[Hank Rearden]

But only in the last three years have federal and state health officials realized that outdoor CO poisoning from boat exhaust has caused or contributed to more than 45 deaths nationwide since 1990

And how many people-trips have been experienced on pleasure boats in that 13-year timeframe - billions?

How many people have been killed at Great White concerts in just the last year alone? More than 100?

45 is nothing. Sorry. Yeah, it affects at least 45 families, but statistically it's nothing. Riding in boat exhaust, however, seems pretty stupid.