Gratton Family to File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Super Boat International

[HRTV]

http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...rnational.html

“One of the most of upsetting things about this entire scenario is that Joey Gratton would absolutely, positively be alive today but for the gross negligence of SBI,” said Allweiss. “Joey Gratton didn’t die ‘of injuries sustained in the crash,’ as (SBI head) John Carbonell has said. He had no injuries. He drowned waiting to be rescued by people on the rescue boat who were not adequately, competently trained as first-responders. It took three and a half minutes for the trained divers in the helicopter to deploy after the crash. I have been told that’s because the divers in the angel ship (helicopter) were told they were to act as second responders and to allow the personnel in the rescue boats to act as first responders.”

[chicagopaul]

Don't mean to sound morbid, and I don't know the details, but if someone got there in 1 1/2 minutes instead of 3 1/2 minutes, are there folks that think that would have made a differance? Dunno. Just asking.

[HRTV]

Paul I agree all though I think this is more about his next statement which was also stated in an article recently written by Steve David.



“This is the angriest I have ever been about this sport, and the one thing I never want to hear again, and the one thing the Gratton family never wants to hear again, is that Joey Gratton "died doing something he loved"

I feel the real problem here is that this is no longer acceptable. The "he died doing what he loved" is no longer going to work.

[HRTV]

Paul,

From Steve David:

"Over the past few days we've lost three really fine people in Offshore racing accidents in Key West. While we mourn their loss, I can't help but believe these tragedies might have been preventable. Racing always involves a risk, yet over the years, groups like UIM and APBA with the insight of Bob Wartinger, Ron Jones Sr, Jeff Neff, George Linder, Dave Vilwock, Mike Hanson, Scott Raney, Rich Luhrs... and others, we've developed safety standards in at least the Unlimited Hydroplane category that have been tested thru well over 100 accidents over 150 MPH. My crash in July was a direct T bone at over 100 MPH and both Dave Vilwock and I walked away. J.W Meyers hit the wall at Detroit at over 100 MPH and receievd a broken foot, and is back racing with us. These designs work. They are snug, with a top hatch and a bottom hatch. There is little room for extremity acceleration in a crash, we have HANS devices to protect our necks, full time air, multiple point harnesses, etc. The canopies used in Offshore racing face different loads and in my opinion, after 40 years of racing, aren't sufficient to meet the current speeds. They are too large, too much flat surface, and not enough structural support. We can do better, there are people in place that can make it better. As we mourn Bob, Jeff and Joey, let their deaths put a new emphasis on consolidating the safety expertise that is available and doing everything humanly possible to prevent future tragedies. Saying "it's just racing" or they "died doing what they loved" just doesn't cut it. I was with Joey Gratton and his kids in San Diego just 7 weeks ago, they didn't come any more professional, any more loving, any more of being the best at what he did. God, please take care of Joey and hold his family in your palm."

[AZ Outlaw]

Air system? Lot's of missing info IMO

[chicagopaul]

Thanks. That helps some. I have been active in the sport for 6 years. We have lost several great stock racers. Not to boat racing , but boat racers that were playing on snowmobiles.
This guy is gonna hate me, but if you are gonna die, which we all will, it should be doing something that you love to do. Shoud you die because of someones poor training or your putting yourself where you don't belong, or..... or ..... or .... not a fair statement. It's very sad. And my feeling go out to those who have suffered a loss. It is good to try to fix things and prevent others from such a fate. But to get as much money as you can because you are angry ..... If he gets lots of money, and his anger subsides, I would hope he would put some of his winnings toward keeping others from having the same fate. Well time will tell. A Grieving Father. Man that sucks.....

[Ron Hill]

Anyone Recognize the name, "Allweiss"???

“One of the most of upsetting things about this entire scenario is that Joey Gratton would absolutely, positively be alive today but for the gross negligence of SBI,” said Allweiss.

I know nothing about this "BLOW OVER" but I do know Michael Allweiss and his daddy's law firm!

[doc 35-0]

I have been working on putting a EMT in the pick up boat that is trained in water rescue. This has to be planned in advance, getting those people in the boat to help in case an accident happens. There can be not be too much planning.

[HRTV]

I have been working on putting a EMT in the pick up boat that is trained in water rescue. This has to be planned in advance, getting those people in the boat to help in case an accident happens. There can be not be too much planning.

One of my biggest fears and the number one obstacle that keeps me from ever getting back into a Stock Outboard boat is the lack of certified trained medical personel that are actually on the water.

One of my biggest fears and the number one obstacle that keeps me from ever getting back into a Stock Outboard boat is the lack of certified trained medical personnel that are actually on the water.

I was never comfortable with the idea of my life being in the hands of a fellow racer or in worst case scenario a local kid helping out on the turn boat.

I am fully aware that the cost of having even one trained diver/EMT would dramatically raise cost which in turn would be passed on to the clubs/driver but what is your life worth?

[modhydro]

Course personnel

Dan,


I am not trying to hijack this thread, but you bring up a very valid point. The severity of this event does bring this to light though so I think that it bears some attention.

At IOA races, as a referee trained largely by Tom McCain, I was always told that safety comes first. Don't just have people sign up for turn boat and simply let them go where they want. Be insistent about who you put where. Make sure that you have people in each position capable of making the decisions necessary.

An even bigger point is to have the trained EMT's out on the water. Maybe we are just lucky to be dealing with the crews we have at our races, but they are always willing and even glad to be on the water. They know better than us that first response is the most critical phase of any rescue. They want to be where they can do the most good the quickest.

Safety is something that needs to be on all of our minds all of the time. With a little forethought and reasoning, it can make potentially dangerous situations far less so. It is up to us to implement the plans though. Remember that it is our friends, families and ourselves that we are ultimately protecting. When you send out the volunteers, ask yourself if you would want them showing up at an accident scene to help you out.

Steve Roskowski

[dholt]

It is stated in the APBA rule book that a trained EMT must be on the water at all times.

What club in their right mind would not adhere to such a standard? Our club (TRORA) has never nor would never deviate from safety standards.

Certainly the higher speed boats with enclosed canopies need divers/etc... Those rules are in the book as well.

[Howie Nichols]

EMT vs Paramedic

Remember there are difference's. The general public groups everyone as EMT's. For a basic run down of "field level medical personell";

First Responder - takes a 40 hour class and is trained in the minimum areas needed in medicine.

EMT - Typically a 1 semester college course now and is trained to control bleeding and maintain an airway.

Paramedic - A 3 semester program, trained in Cardiac, Pharmacology, and Advanced Airway techniques to name just a basic few.

The Paramedic can perform advanced airway interventions, administer medications, establish IV access for fluid adminsitrations/resuscitations, as well as bandage and apply needed bleeding control measures.

An EMT does less invasive airway interventions, only a few medications, occasional IV's depending on the system they work for, and bleeding control only.

This is only a brief synopsis but hope it helps.

EMT's or Medic's aside is in nice to know someone is on the water with medical training so they cna handle the emergency appropriately.

[Racerkyle20]

Orr

This is why I love Oregon race rescue and fully believe they are the best water rescue crew in the u.s. Steve and crew have their own boat, are full paramedics, and respond very fast. They are also trained divers. Region 10 is lucky to have them as a resource to utilize.

Also I'll give a shout out on the inboard side of things. Region 10 rescue for inboards has nothing but fully trained divers and parametics. Big enough they have their own club and have a voice at region 10 meetings. If anyone needs an example of water rescue they need to come to Seattle races...

[HRTV]

This is why I love Oregon race rescue and fully believe they are the best water rescue crew in the u.s. Steve and crew have their own boat, are full paramedics, and respond very fast. They are also trained divers. Region 10 is lucky to have them as a resource to utilize.

Also I'll give a shout out on the inboard side of things. Region 10 rescue for inboards has nothing but fully trained divers and parametics. Big enough they have their own club and have a voice at region 10 meetings. If anyone needs an example of water rescue they need to come to Seattle races...

Kyle,

You guys are lucky, we have a full blown certified rescue team here in my region problem is they are not utilized at Stock Outboard races.

http://www.region4rescue.com/staff.html

[Bill Huson]

RE: medical personal at races/on the water. Many moons ago I had a great plan - sell the idea of volunteering as med help at exciting outboard races to the highly trained EMT/Paramedic folks who work in Fairfax County, VA. All expenses paid of course. These guys and gals are so good that when a major disaster (earthquake/tsunami/etc) occurs anywhere on the globe they grab gear and haul tail for Dulles and jump on a plane.

I flew my plan past the APBA and guess the answer was? No. Reason? The insurance folks said we had to use medical personal equal to but not better than the local talent, which in some of our backwoods races was pathetic. If we brought our own med people that would "expose" the insurance company to lawsuits should something go wrong.

And there you have it.

My motivation for this deal was a race where thye "ambulance" was a step van with no flashers with two attendants who may or may not have had basic first aid training and the entire med stock on the ambulance (cough cough) was a tube Neosporm, a roll of gauze, adhesive tape, and a box of bandaids. Oh yeah, they were araid of water and wouldn't ride in the rescue boat. I kid thee not.