Rare Water Skiing Death Happened While Skier Was Barefoot
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - An equipment malfunction may be to blame for the death of a water skier who was skiing barefoot in Westminster on Sunday.
The incident happened at midday at Standley Lake and the victim was a man. His name was Theodore Radey and he was 43.
The victim was reported to be bleeding when he was taken to the boat dock after he was hurt. Park rangers tried to save him with first aid, but officials with the Westminster Fire Department said he sustained a significant traumatic injury.
They said something may have gone wrong with the motorboat's boom. That's that long metal pole the skier uses as he or she is towed.
Grant Harness, who lives in Longmont but was at the lake on Sunday, said water skiers who ski barefoot usually travel "probably a minimum of 30 miles an hour."
Harness described barefoot water skiing as something he's not fond of.
"They're using their feet -- which are a small contact patch -- and that's all the support they have against the surface of the water," he said.
The incident is under investigation.
