Canadian Racers Die in Kayaking Accident
Rob Howard / 11.10.2007
The group had already paddled across to Anvil island earlier in the day in poor conditions, then completed a 2.5 hour run to the island’s summit and back in pouring rain. Their plan was to paddle back, then begin a long bike ride, followed by another run as part of a 12 hour training day, and they set out to return to Porteau Cove on the mainland despite the worsening conditions.
On the return trip Fontaine and his partner Cheryl Beatty were in a racing kayak and capsized into the frigid water wearing lightweight racing clothing (none of the group were wearing wet suits). Beatty was swept away and clung to the kayak which came to her rescue as they battled their way back to Anvil Island. She was given emergency treatment for hypothermia by her rescuers and subsequently evacuated by hovercraft to hospital where she recovered.
Fontaine was laying on the upturned kayak and the other two boats went to assist him by rafting together, but he was still half in the water and suffering from hypothermia and opted to climb into the storage hatch of the kayak of Graham Tutti and Richard Juryn. Unstable and shipping water into the hatch they capsized after the two remaining boats became separated, and opted to try and swim to shore.
The hovercraft evacuating the 3 paddlers from Anvil island found Juryn and Fontaine face down in the water and despite resuscitation attempts both died. Tutti was the stronger swimmer and was also picked up and taken to hospital to recover.
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