posted by admin on Mar 11
A kayaking champion died after being overcome by breakers on a surfing beach in Devon. This was head during an inquest conducted earlier this week.
Forty-year old Andrew Maycock reportedly drowned during a surfing training session on August last year at Barricane Beach in Woolacombe. The divorced father of two was an Olympian and a former kayaking champion for Britain.
Dr Elizabeth Earland, a coroner for Greater Devon, said that the death was accidental, stating that the victim only suffered minor heart problems and was unlikely to be the major cause of the death.
Surf skier Mark Ressel who was at the scene said that the conditions were challenging despite the short (around 4 feet) breakers. He said during the inquest that Maycock said that they should go for the challenge. They were paddling towards the breakers when he discovered that his companion was nowhere to be found.
When found, he immediately called for help and the authorities immediately airlifted the unconscious Maycock to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
