University graduate dies in wakeboard accident

Adam Puckett set out Sunday for a day on the Amite River, equipped with a wakeboard, a boat and a life vest marketed as "the comp vest that all comp vests want to be."

But when the 26-year-old University alumnus was thrown from his board after a long day of water sports, the vest wasn't enough to keep him afloat.

His friends and coworkers on the boat tried to retrieve Puckett, but he had slipped under the water, and they could not find him, recounted his brother Johnathan Puckett.

"He didn't come up," his brother said. "They spent a long time trying to find him."

Family and friends discovered that the life vest Adam Puckett was wearing at the time of his death was not U.S. Coast Guard approved, and while it boasted some floatation ability, it wasn't enough to keep him above water.

"I think people have a huge misconception about this type of vest," Jonathan Puckett said. "It's really scary how they don't have any warnings at all. I would really like people to know about that vest, all vests that aren't Coast Guard approved. If you're going to get something like that, at least know that you're risking your life every time you wakeboard or do any water sport."

The life jacket Adam Puckett wore was an impact vest, according to Sgt. Rachel Zechenelly, boating education coordinator for the enforcement division of the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. She said the vest, designed to reduce trauma when someone hits the water, is not guaranteed to offer floatation.

Kevin Kelly, recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard, said an important safety step for people to take when boating is to know the types of jackets and when boarding a friend's boat to check and make sure they can locate the vests and that there is one they can wear.

The Coast Guard has five approved types of life jackets, each offering a different kind of protection, Zechenelly said. Approved vests should contain a tag that identifies its type and the amount of weight it can support, she said. State law requires that anyone participating in water sports like waterskiing or wakeboarding wear an approved life jacket.

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Damn, RIP.

Man, I really hate to hear that. I always ride an approved vest and I have friends that do not, to each their own I guess but I hate to hear this.

Real shame, my sympathies go out to his family and friends.

(Message edited by singapore_sling on September 26, 2007)

This is really sad.

My friend, Adam Silcio who I ride with back in Louisiana, is the president of the LSU wakeboard club. This summer, Adam Puckett asked my friend Adam Silcio if they would want someone to film the club and make a promo video for them. It was a really random, but generous offer. Yesterday, Adam Silcio called me up and told me that Adam Puckett died. What a fragile world.

wow thats really sad my sympthies to his family and friends. RIP Adam.

This is why i only use my comp vest for winching in shallow water. I use my approved vest for everything else.

So the other weekend i went riding and we didn't have a vest. I have been riding for 10 years+ and have never ridden vestless, but i have been only using "comp" vests for probably the last 5 years because they aren't bulky. I can tell you that I felt no difference in flotation without the vest than i did with my vest now. What i did was very stupid and I NEVER let riders ride without a vest on my boat, but I found it very interesting how little the stupid non-cga vest was doing for me and now here is some confirmation that they really will not help you float

Don't turn this into a USGA Vs. Non-USGA thread...

R.I.P. Adam.

Wow, my head is down wishing the best for his family and friends...

R.I.P Adam
My prayers are with the family and freinds
This has been a brutal year...it seems like everytime I turn around I'm hearing of another tragedy on the water

Wow, this is the first time I have heard of a COMPETITION (NON-CGA) VEST killing someone.

RIP!

BTW, assuming the vest was the boat owners and not the victim, then I could see the family suing the boat owner for negligence. Something to think about for fellow boat owners and non-cga vest owners.

RIP mate.

RIP Adam, I hope your story will save hundreds of lives because it changed others approach to safety on the water.

RIP Adam, My thoughts go out to him and his family We all know the consequences of wearing them some of us choose to wear them and some of us don't to each their own I hate to hear about things like this happening though

Yes, Rest in Peace Adam. My deepest sympathies to your family and friends.

Who makes the Impact vest?

Oniell makes the impact vest. I wore one for years. Wow.

The Jet Pilot A-10 is the one with that marketing slogan. What a tragedy. RIP Adam

Very sorry to see this.. Rest in Peace Adam.

What marketing slogan?

By mjw (wkbrdr) on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - 6:29 pm:

Adam Puckett set out Sunday for a day on the Amite River, equipped with a wakeboard, a boat and a life vest marketed as "the comp vest that all comp vests want to be."

i think he is referring to the very fist sent of the very first post..

I think this is a major problem with all the vest companies (O'neill, JP, Hyperlite, LF, etc). They seem to be pushing "Comp" vests more than redesigning USCG vests to be less bulky. When I was looking for a new one I seem to remember seeing lots of Comp vests and only 1-2 USCG vests offered by each company. Am I wrong?

I tried one from a JP rep about 3 years ago on his boat, took a bad enough fall to see stars and realized I wasn't gulping air but gulping water. Worst experience I've ever had wakeboarding. I was fortunate. I'll never wear a Comp vest again and they won't ever be allowed on my boat.

RIP Adam

RIP Adam....It's always sad hearing these storys about fellow wakeboarders.

RIP Adam, his family will be in our prayers.

The problem with the vest manufacturers is not that they don't want to push CGA but the time it takes to get a CGA vest approved by the Coast Guard. It costs thousands to go through the testing and additionally takes about two years to get the vest approved for the wake market. When they don't pass a section of the tests the first time, manufacturers have to start the process over. The Coast Guard certification is backed up because of budget cuts.

O'Neill has a new CGA vest that I thought felt as comfortable as a comp vest. Jetpilot has an amazing CGA version of the A-10 in the works but we wont see it until mid 2008. I saw a sample last year and it looks great. They are trying as hard as possible to get it out.

We can see new comp vests from Jetpilot, O'Neill and others every year which is hard to swallow when events like this happen. I feel for the family. I hate to hear of accidents such as this one. Epically when I wear an A-10 comp vest.

Prayers for family and friends. Just remember and know the facts when buying ALL equipment. Helmets, vest, earplugs...there is a reason for these items. DNR in Michigan is thinking about passing legislation for only CGA approved vests in and out of the vessle. I can see a trend. My friend (pro shop manager) is only stocking CGA's for 08 just in case the government steps forward with this. I like my CGA (Jetpilot full metal jacket..lots of lumbar support for longer rides)...without it, reminds of not wearing my seatbelt..just uncomfortable feeling of not being secured. But I won't condemn my buds for wearing the non...I will tell them once the dangers and let that be it. Everyone be safe. We don't need anymore tragedy's this year.

Thanks for the info Spencer, I didn't realize that was part of the problem.

RIP

For this guy, the COMP vest was equivalent to wearing NO vest. So, what is the value of a comp vest? If it can't float you, what good is it?

^^^ word

Another factor in flotation is body fat. Atheletes with extreme low body fat need more flotation than individuals with higher body fat. My son needs 2 pounds to sink in the pool (when his lungs are full of air) I need 8 pounds to sink. If he exhales all the air in his lungs he sinks without taking in any water. If I exhale all air in my lungs I still float.

Damn we ride there... I have been out of town and didn't even hear about this. I didn't know Adam but I'm sure I know people that do.

RIP