last summer we had a very windy day (15-20) and then had a squall come through (20-30).

There were many people sailing and also lots of kite boarders out.

There was a young guy (i think 16) that was lifted up into the power lines when the squall came through. The sparks were visible and audible for a great distance. The power lines melted his harness off... he then dropped 30' onto the metal rail that was below him (divides a trail with the roadway).

I was actually sailing (trying to get to shore) when the squall line came in. I heard the electric shock, but didn’t see him.

What i did see about 1 minute later was his Kite fly into my boat. After it melted away from him, it flew across the causeway and into me!

The kite and all the lines got wrapped up around my mast and forestay. I had to pull out my knife and pop the kite (they are inflatable) and cut off all the lines.. it almost capsized me. It took over 10 minutes to free myself from it. I felt bad slashing a $1000.00 kite, but would have felt worse if I cracked my mast in ½ as this “NEW SAIL” took me out.

It is my understanding the young man recovered... with severe burns... broken ribs and other bones and months in the hospital. It was later noted (on a kite board website blog) that he had no business being out that day (he was not very experienced) in those winds, had the wrong type of kite for heavy air, was on the wrong side of the causeway (windward of the power lines) …

and I would bet he has probably decided not to kite board again.