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FWC SUGGESTS LIFE JACKETS AS CHRISTMAS
GIFT IDEA
December 12, 2006
Contacts: Carol Pratt (850) 488-4676
Brian Rehwinkel (850) 488-5600
This time of year, it would be especially tragic
to lose a loved one. Unfortunately, all too often, the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is called to
investigate boating accidents which result in drowning deaths,
during the holidays as well as throughout the year.
The death of her son, just prior to the
Christmas holiday, was how Gay Kite became involved with FWC.
Gay Kite said her son, John, was someone who
loved the outdoors and a good swimmer. John and a friend, Allan
Morone, died while boating on Half Moon Lake, near Ocala, Dec.
19, 2004. FWC investigated their deaths.
“I worried about him driving his motorcycle,”
Kite said.
John and Morone were testing a new boat motor,
which may have been too large for their small johnboat, on the
lake near Kite’s home. Investigators suspect water came over the
stern and flooded the vessel. Neither of the men was wearing a
life jacket.
“I never thought this would happen in my own
backyard,” Kite said.
John was 23 years old when he died. Morone was
22 and had served with the Marines in Iraq. They had been
friends since elementary school.
As a way of coping with her son’s death, Kite
educates others on the importance of wearing life jackets all
the time while out on the water.
“People don’t realize how quick something can
happen,” Kite said. “I live and breathe it (the loss of her son)
every day. It’s not something you get over.”
Kite and FWC are encouraging friends and
relatives of boating enthusiasts to give life jackets for
Christmas and other holidays. “Give a gift to save a life,”
Capt. Richard Moore, FWC’s Boating Law Administrator, said.
Kite said she has bought two this season to give
as presents. The price of the new type of comfortable,
inflatable life jackets starts at around $60.
So far this year, nearly 70 deaths have been
attributed to boating accidents statewide. |
