Tags
abundance of caution, deaths, floatation device, glide through air, Kite Tube, pulled by boat, recall, safety restraints, severe injuries, Toys, Wego
Kite Tube (Wego, 2006)
Despite their slogan, “Never kite higher than you are willing to fall,” 2 people died and dozens were severely injured (think broken necks and punctured lungs).
The Kite Tube was a floatation device three meters (or ten feet) wide. The tube was pulled behind a boat and by yanking a cord, the rider was able to glide through the air. The problem was once you were airborne, you had no control over the tube (slogan fail!) Though it sure sounded cool. The only safety “restraints” were stirrups and hand grips.
Wego ceased production claiming there was no way to determine the actual cause of the accidents, but that “out of an abundance of caution,” they were recalling the tubes.