98
Sam Foyle
Sam first contacted me in early 2021 , and told me how his best friend Simon Flynn had drowned on the Camel Estuary in Cornwall in August 2020 . He had borrowed Sam ’ s board and gone paddling on a perfect summers day . The current didn ’ t look particularly strong and certainly not dangerous . Simon was on a narrow part of the estuary and lost his balance . He ended up in the water on the side of a moored boat with his board on the other side . He was attached by the leg and fighting to reach his leash . By the time help came , Simon was unconscious and unresponsive to CPR and subsequent defibrillation .
Sam has lost his friend and made it his mission to send a safety message to prevent further leash accidents by making sure people understand the risks of leg leashes on moving water . Sam ’ s mission is very close to my heart as at Active360 ; we made a conscious decision not to use leashes on the river with novice paddlers .
If we use leashes , they are always quick release ( QR ) leashes . Active360 has been called ‘ cowboys ’ and in the past been criticised for being ‘ anti leash ’. That was never true , and our leash policy ( published eight years ago on our website ) clarifies that we support the appropriate use of leashes .
Tidal Thames
This recommendation was based on 30 + years of experience on the Tidal Thames , understanding the river well and its risks . We always use buoyancy aids with our customers as they are the only safety devices that will prevent drowning and will not present a risk of entanglement . We inform our customers and , whenever possible , explain to everyone why we don ’ t use leg leashes . The main coaches and directors in Active360 all have backgrounds in whitewater and tidal kayaking , so we understand rivers well , and we are clear about the risks .