Kaye Escott

Kaye's thoughts on the accident:

I am writing (a bit belatedly) following much reflection and soul-searching in response to the letter posted on the wessex site – safety matters, which although mentioning no names, my accident was referred to as the cause for the questioning paragliding competence.

There is a reason constructive feedback is considered more useful than criticism.

OK - it was a daft thing to do and a bloody dangerous place to be. Every idiot knows that there is turbulance on the lee side of a hill and if they don't they should not have passed their CP and they certainly shouldn't be flying.

John states that there is 'obviously something that needs urgent addressing', I agree. This is as far as I agree with John however, as his obvious explanations were, for my part, over-simplified, over-critical and unhelpful.

The explanations he states as 'the pilot being unaware of the effects of rotor or unaware they were flying into it' - presumably either due to stupidity or incompetence.

For starters. we don't learn anything without asking the pilot in question and reflecting and reviewing with that pilot what happened. If John had asked I would have been able to discuss the situation and how I came to be in that position. Maybe then we both could have learned something.

Secondly, John suggests that the pilots have failed to judge their own abilities. Although I am pilot rated with 200 hours on 60 sites, John's advice seems to be either stop flying or fly more conservatively/ safely. Presumably this means stay above take off don't push any boundaries. Remind me why we fly.....?

So what did I learn

As with all accidents, pilot error is the reason cited almost exclusively. You’d think we’d learn. For myself, tiredness and lack of concentration leading to not assessing the wind had changed direction and continuing to fly when the priority was to get back to the car and my cup of tea and lunch was the reason. I also was in that state when you drive along a motorway and have not remembered the last 20 miles - that dreamlike state that is OK on a road but lethal on the cliff.

When tired, focus changes from the global picture to a more narrow focus – with me it was the edge of the cliff that I continued to hug without casting my eyes wider to encorporate the whole scene. This is the same as object fixation where you almost forget you are still moving and you act as if you are a stationary object.

Cliffs are not safe although the airflow is smoother than on inland sites, and I was guilty of this complacency.

I need to learn how to stop and rest properly. On this day I had landed for a break having already flown from Ringstead to Durdle Door once, then failed to have a proper one – rather just a quick glug of water - because it was still flyable. After 2 hours flying this is not sufficient. Prabably I need to look at my watch and not allow myself to take off again for 15/20 minutes and determine that time in advance.

Boating up and down the ridge on a safe bit for a defined rest period would have enabled me to 'switch off' if landing and resting is impossible (usually coz it’s too dodgy to relaunch).

Assessing the ‘next difficult bit’ and mentally preparing for it. Boating up and down on an 'easy bit' would have allowed me to assess the options before reaching it. As part of this process, reassessing the wind and conditions, looking round at the whole picture almost a 'pre-flight check' scenario, making this more formal and regular. This may need to be done after the above ‘rest’ has occured.

Maybe rest periods need to be more planned. With thermaling, it is recommended that the rest occures once the thermal has been found. Similarly on the cliff I would next time work out where the rest spot is going to be.

Anyway these are some of the things that I would do next time.

I make no apologies if John does not agree with my response and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Unhelpful advice or comments are destructive and leave the recipricant (me) feeling depressed and negative.

(Editor: This ends this discussion as far as the web site is concerned)

The accident:

As you may know, Kaye was in a serious accident near Durdle Door. She is now recovering in hospital. Paul and Kaye have given their permission for us to put news of the accident and her progress on this website as many club members will want to know how she is getting on. We all send her our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Kaye is now recovering at home.

Paul is our membership secretary, so please be patient if you are waiting for any club related business from him.

23 Sept from Paul Escott

Kaye is out of hospital now and lounging in the front room in front of the TV. 'Natch, the inactivity is driving her (and therefore me) crazy. But it's better than being in hospital. Visitors and callers are always welcome so if you're near Portsmouth feel free to pop round for a cuppa and a gas. Her number is 023 9271 3295 or 07956 221 606.

20 Sept 2005 from Paul Escott

Kaye is now at home.

15 Sept 2005 - From Roy Menage

I have just returned from visiting Kaye. She is in very good spirits considering the scintillating company she doesn't have around her (i.e. all old ladies who seem to spend their time sleeping) She is now off the morphine but still on quite strong pain killers. She is also getting around a little now although she is having difficulties mastering her crutches. That will obviously take some time. She would like to be able to go home early next week but that will depend on how independently she can get in and out of bed and get around on the crutches. She is suffering from a shortage of visitors since Paul has gone back to work, so if anybody could get to see her, particularly over the weekend, I am sure she would be delighted to see them.

9 Sept 2005 - From John Blessing

Pete C and I visited Kaye today. She is now sat up out of bed. She has what can only be described as a towel rail fitted to keep her pelvis in place, very convenient for the bathroom or kitchen I imagine <g>. Kaye seems cheerful and is looking forward to going home next week (she hopes). Visitors are very welcome.

08 Sept 2005 - From Paul Escott

Kaye continues to improve and now has the singular pleasure of pissing into a pot instead of through a tube. Anyone who's been there can appreciate the jump in good spirits this milestone of recovery means! I'm told to pass on thanks for the cards and emails. It now looks like she'll be home in a week or two, back flying in 12 weeks or so.

1 Sept 05 - From Paul Escott

Hi

I wasn't there or even going to Dorset until I got a call at work at 4ish in the afternoon. This is an acount culled from several peoples retelling. On saturday Kaye miss-judged a transit across the headland whilst flying the cliffs near Durdle Door. Her wing collapsed and she fell about 100' hitting the cliffside and dropping into the sea. She didn't panic and held folds of her wing in her left arm, the trapped air gave her enough leverage to get her head above water for a second at a time to take a breath of air. She was attempting to get out of her harness with her right arm which, she told me later, could not seem to get to the buckles and she was losing the fight. She was about to die. As you all should know water landings in a paraglider are almost always fatal because the harness floats forcing the pilots head underwater. Above her Russell had called 999 from the air. Neil had decended to the beach and started to swim out to her. A passing dive boat was alerted, possibly by a glider pilots shouts, at least two divers went into the water. Between Neil and the divers Kaye was cut loose and dragged to the beach. An off duty doctor who happened to be holidaying on the beach stabilised Kaye before she was flown to the Dorset County General at Dorchester by Coastguard Sea King Helicopter.

Minuses: She has shattered her pelvis on the right side into more bits than I could count on the x-ray. The ball on the end of her right femur is snapped off. Her right elbow is dislocated. Right ulna broken. Blood in the urine flow. Cut under chin. Lowest ribs, both right and left, fractured. She was (and to an extent, is) in a great deal of pain.

Plusses: Remained conscious throughout. On or shortly after admission she was operated on and the femur was pinned. So was the ulna, and the elbow relocated. A traction rod was surgically implanted just above the knee. Over the last couple of days the traction has pulled the shards of pelvic bone into a fair approximation of where they should be. I've had a good look at the before and after x-rays and though there are many fractures I can't see any in the hip socket area. Due to the morphine and other opiate derivative pain killers Kaye's on, and maybe the amount of seawater she ingested as well as the knocking about her digestive system received, she has been unable to keep anything down. Yesterday she commenced TPN (total parental nutrition, feeds directly into the bloodsteam bypassing the digestive system completely. bloody expensive but I think she's worth it :-) and looks and feels stronger. She also had a CT scan which has shown no injury to her internal organs, there were worries about her kidneys and spleen. Today she will be transferred to Southampton General which is the south of England pelvic specialist hospital. She is booked in for an op on friday where her pelvis will be wired and plated as necessary. Once that's done it should only be a time issue as to when Kaye makes a complete recovery. The pain is still great but is lessening and the hospital staff are trying their utmost to treat and minimise it.

Minor minuses: I have had to cancel our hang gliding lessons. And the PADI diving course we were due to start friday and have been studying for for a month. The holiday with the kids in Italy November is probably a no go and I'm going to cancel the Oz tickets I've booked for January. Kaye may, just may, be fully recovered by then, but if I cancel now I lose a small deposit. Cancel late I lose most of the ticket price. We can go later in the year.

I'll keep you updated as things progress.

On a personal note I'd like to repeat the thanks Kaye has expressed and also add thanks for stuff done for me. Calls to alert me to the accident, later calls of support, practical help like arranging local accomodation for me had I needed it, help shifting the car and passing on contact details are all greatly appreciated. As a club I don't think the Wessex can be beaten.

All the best to you all,
Paul

1 Sept 05 - From Kaye Escott

Dear Club Members,

I’m not going to be with you for a few weeks. Thank you for all the messages and encouragement I have received. Obviously I am not going to be flying for a while.

Regarding the accident, the people who need recognition are Neil because of the phenomenal bravery for flying down and swimming out to me and Russell because of the heroic way he kept his cool and gave the coast guards such accurate information, and stayed in control of the situation from the air.

While I realize no one will visit me when it is flyable, when it is pissing down with rain I would love to see any of you if you are in the Southampton area.

Kaye

p.s. Thanks Roger for collecting the car

1 Sept 05 - From Matt (one of the divers on the scene)

Hi Paul

Glad to hear Kaye is okay (well as best that can be expected), I will send this on to all involved. Will give you an account of how we saw it.

We were about to go diving of Bats head (near Durdle door). We were all watching the paragliders on the land just before we were about to start diving. We then saw Kaye's wing collapse. After that we lost sight of her and drove round the cliff and saw her in the water. We assessed the situation for a few seconds, but realised this was a fairly major incident and called the coastguard (luckily they were only based 5 mins away at Portland).

Due to there being a reef in the way we couldn't get the boat to close and so sent in three guys with fins on. They swam what must have been about 100m (pretty tiring in dry suits) to Kaye. There was another guy on the beach who got to her first and was helping her stay afloat. I did not realise she had created herself an air pocket, which is very impressive under the stress she must have been under.

The ropes were all tangled up around her. They cut many of them free, but left some around the legs, as one of the guys knew in pelvis injuries it is important to keep your legs together. Due to shock, Kaye seemed to not want us to cut them, but obviously we did (sorry, hope it doesn't cost to much to replace). Once she was free from the wing, our guys dragged her out of the water. She was then stabilised as much as possible and kept warm. None of us are highly medically trained and they could see the coastguard coming, so thought this was the best action.

From the boat it was still difficult to assess the situation so myself and a friend swam to land with an O2 kit. At the same time the coastguard arrived (very precise). Luckily on the beach there was a doctor and a nurse, who assisted Kaye. Once the coastguard arrived they were very cautious (obviously due to potential spinal injuries). I think they also picked up a doctor who they dropped off. Eventually she was carried into the chopper and flown on.

As far as we were aware she was conscious throughout (but weren't there when she initially hit the sea). In all from the time from us leaving the boat to getting back on was near 1.5 hours, but it didn't feel like that at all.

You should also be aware that a police boat arrived, on board was a lady with a video camera. She was filming for a programme called "Beach rescue". They did film footage of the incident and interviewed some people involved. Apart from that we spoke to no media, I think all the newspaper reports (she made into all of the main papers) and the BBC website came from the coastguard report

Shame about the diving course!! Hope you get to do it in the future. Diving is a highly safety conscious sport with a lot of rescue training. It was reassuring that in this emergency many of our skills came in handy

We are a Bournemouth dive club, which also runs the Bournemouth University dive club.

All our club send on our regards and hopes Kaye has a speedy recovery. She is a very lucky lady, I know she must be in a lot of discomfort now, but could have been a whole lot worse (pretty amazing she had no spinal injuries)

We might have to take you up on the tandem flight offer at some point!
Good luck for the op on Friday

Thanks
Matt

From a member of the public who witnessed the accident

Hello

I wasn't sure which email address to send this message and hope you do not mind me contacting you.

Last Saturday I was sat on the top of the cliff about two metres away from where the lady flew into the top of the cliff and fell down at Bats hole. My parents made the initial call to the coastguard and we were wondering if it is at all possible to tell us how she is and if she is ok to tell her that my parents and myself would like to wish her a very speedy recovery.

Many Thanks for your time Alison