Extreme sports (inclusing diving) killing over 70's

915 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by bobalot, Apr 18, 2010

Gimbo

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2010

Where do the journalists come up with these headlines:

I suppose it is safer to keep the elderly indoors watching TV all day

Extreme sports killing the over 70s - Telegraph

Taking part in hazardous activities isn’t cheap and it is often only later on in life that you have the means to do it.”
More than a third of the 212 people in British scuba diving incidents requiring medical treatment last year were over 50, according to figures by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It said the numbers of incidents as well as the proportion of victims over 50 has “increased significantly” in comparison with previous years.
Joanne Groenenberg, a spokesman for the MCA, said older people taking part in high-risk sports such as diving should first make sure they have done the right health checks.
“People are living longer, are fitter and have more money to spend on leisure activities, so it is no surprise that we are diving longer into retirement age.

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Haylo

· #2 · Apr 18, 2010 (Edited)

It said the numbers of incidents as well as the proportion of victims over 50 has “increased significantly” in comparison with previous years.

Meaningless statement unless we know both the actual number and the proportion of participants over the age of 50, compared to previous years. Typical example of sloppy thinking and poor journalistic interpretation of statistics.

And what sparked this whole thing off?

The warning comes after an adventure-seeking pensioner was killed when she was hit by car while on a cycling trip around Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Vivienne Tremain, 66, of Beccles, Suffolk had already ridden more than 6,000 miles when the accident happened eight months into her tour. She was hit from behind by a white Ford Fiesta near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia.

Am I the only one who doesn't think that a "pensioner" i.e. a 66 year old, riding a bicycle is an extreme sport?

A friend of mine was killed in Greece in exactly the same circumstances, his girlfriend who had a crushed pelvis had to ie there and watch him die. This pensioner was hit from behind by a male driver in his 20s - why is shamefully murderous driving not the focus of the article? *rolls eyes*

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Arfie

· #3 · Apr 18, 2010

CotoChris said:
More than a third of the 212 people in British scuba diving incidents requiring medical treatment last year were over 50, according to figures by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

These were mostly from YD, Paging Steve Summers

As for the cycling, my great uncle was a bit "eccentric" and in his 70's decided to get rid of his car and start cycling everywhere including the 50 mile trip from Leicester to Chesterfield to see my nan, in time for lunch. He also cycled across Japan and east to west coast across the USA and many other adventures. Mad as a box of frogs but at least he didn't sit waiting to die.

Arfie

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Two Hats

· #4 · Apr 18, 2010

I thought it was mostly one of the following that killed the elderly

Being old (times up)
Being ill
Being killed by greedy relatives for the inheritance
Dignitas

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bobalot

· #5 · Apr 18, 2010

londonsean69 said:
I thought it was mostly one of the following that killed the elderly

Being old (times up)

Being ill

Being killed by greedy relatives for the inheritance

Dignitas

Not forgetting vigorous sessions of humpybumpy!

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19696

· #6 · Apr 18, 2010

bobalot said:
Not forgetting vigorous sessions of humpybumpy!

Why has an image of a glass of water beside a bed with two sets of false teeth so rudely appeared in my head

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Two Hats

· #7 · Apr 18, 2010

Morag said:
Why has an image of a glass of water beside a bed with two sets of false teeth so rudely appeared in my head

Fear of the iminent arrival of that situation into your own life?
<Runs for cover>

Obviously in many many years time, as you are only 28

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19696

· #8 · Apr 18, 2010

londonsean69 said:
Fear of the iminent arrival of that situation into your own life?
<Runs for cover>

Obviously in many many years time, as you are only 28

of course

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bobalot

· #9 · Apr 18, 2010

Arfie said:
These were mostly from YD, Paging Steve Summers

As for the cycling, my great uncle was a bit "eccentric" and in his 70's decided to get rid of his car and start cycling everywhere including the 50 mile trip from Leicester to Chesterfield to see my nan, in time for lunch. He also cycled across Japan and east to west coast across the USA and many other adventures. Mad as a box of frogs but at least he didn't sit waiting to die.

Arfie

Good for him!!

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Divingminxsy

· #10 · Apr 18, 2010

When we go skiing we are always told that if any of the party are skiing and over 70 they cannot be covered by the standard insurance which covers the rest of us. I guess they would be expected to arrange private cover if participating.

In Mayrhofen last season there was a very elderly chap with his wife and they were kitted up for skiing every day at breakfast. I asked him if he'd been skiing for long and he told me he was 75 and had started when he was 8. Later I saw him whizzing down a very steep red with grace and agility. Despite this ability I expect he was either un-insured or paying a very high premium to take part in an adventure sport he loved. I'd put money on him to be the safer skiier over a 17 year old anyday.

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bobalot

· #11 · Apr 18, 2010

Divingminxsy said:
When we go skiing we are always told that if any of the party are skiing and over 70 they cannot be covered by the standard insurance which covers the rest of us. I guess they would be expected to arrange private cover if participating.

In Mayrhofen last season there was a very elderly chap with his wife and they were kitted up for skiing every day at breakfast. I asked him if he'd been skiing for long and he told me he was 75 and had started when he was 8. Later I saw him whizzing down a very steep red with grace and agility. Despite this ability I expect he was either un-insured or paying a very high premium to take part in an adventure sport he loved. I'd put money on him to be the safer skiier over a 17 year old anyday.

A guy I really admire is Klauser (excuse spelling) who I've met a couple of times at Marsa Shagra and I am sure a few people here have met him too. He's in his seventies and is amazing to talk to and watch diving!!

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