Deer Isle Kayak Death Fits a Deadly Pattern: No Life Jacket

A man drowned off Little Deer Isle when his kayak flipped over; he had been paddling by himself and did not have a life jacket on, according to the Bangor Daily News. The newspaper reported the drowning as part of an essay about kayaking safety in the area.

National data cited by the newspaper show that boaters without a life jacket account for more than 85% of boating deaths in the U.S. In Maine, roughly half of boating fatalities involve someone on a kayak or other non-motorized craft who was not wearing one.

A life jacket keeps a boater afloat if they lose the ability to swim, giving rescuers more time to reach them in Maine's cold coastal water. The newspaper's account also described precautions for paddlers: going out with a partner instead of alone, carrying gear such as paddle floats and tow lines, and checking wind, tide and weather conditions before heading out near exposed areas such as the Deer Isle archipelago.

This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.