[Gretch]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Absolutely agreed. Far more so than with any car or truck, even approaching aircraft levels of necessity. But, that doesn't appear to have been an issue in this particular case:



This story reminds me of a stress engineer I worked with for many, many years. He took the "golden handshake" and retired when I did, and died literally the next day. Him and his wife were kayaking in the Skagit River. In no more than about a foot of water, with no life jacket on yet, the current swept him downstream, he capsized, got pinned against some rocks and drowned. Totally helpless wife watching the whole thing. Unspeakably tragic, just like this case. He had literally crossed the finish line, and was out celebrating the best way he knew how. Fate can be so very cruel...