Posted online: Jun 23rd, 2010

Issuing his findings at the inquest of a young kitesurfer, who died on Rossnowlagh beach in 2009, Coroner Diarmuid Hegarty warned of the risks of extreme sports.
The inquest into the death of 26-year-old David North agreed the young student had died through “misadventure” after hearing he had suffered multiple skull fractures after being dragged into rocks by a kite he had borrowed – despite wearing a safety helmet.
Noting that all sports carried risks the Coroner said: “It was not his first day and his father has told us that he had considerable experience and would know his equipment and the conditions. He was indulging in a sport and activity that he loved but which had an element of risk and you can’t argue that he didn’t know and accept the risks of this extreme sport.”
A recently erected memorial at Rossnowlagh to the young man from Cavan, who died on November 24 2009 and was known as ‘Babba’ to his friends, states simply “Float on the Winds that Bring Us Joy”.
The inquest in Donegal Town yesterday (Tuesday), was read a statement from Carla McKenna, another kiter who had been in the water that day.
“I knew David from the Sligo/Leitrim kiting scene, the winds were 27 knots that day. He had assisted me in launching my kite but said his friend was going to help him with his.”
Her evidence went on to say that the state of the equipment, the fact that he had “self launched” the kite and a lack of knowledge had been the factors that led to the death.
A statement from a member of the Crime Scene Unit and experienced kite surfer, Garda Pauric Deery, also questioned the state of the equipment used. The evidence revealed that while the safety features of the harness were still operational, the directional lines of the kite had been severely worried, frayed and knotted and two of the four lines had already been replaced.
The owner of the kite used on the day, Johnathan Evans of Rathedmond, Sligo said he knew David for over a year and a half. He said David had asked him for a lend of the kite which was six years old and which he used as a spare.
“It was in good condition, it was my spare. I rolled it out on the floor of my kitchen and explained the safety mechanism as it was different from the kind of kite he was used to using.”