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FALL FROM ALOFT

1863 -

For the second time this year comes news in the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder of a fall from aloft resulting in a tragic death. Earlier this year we reported on the death of a young English cadet from a sail training vessel. This weekend a former U.S. Navy officer Mr. Gregory Vance Gushaw a volunteer in the museum ship Star of India slipped from a rope ladder, stuck his head and was pulled unconscious from the water. He was pronounced dead some 40 minutes after he fell from a yard on the 140 foot foremast. The SV Star of India belongs to San Diego's Maritime Museum and Mr Gushaw was some 50 feet aloft training fellow crew members. It is reported he was wearing a safety harness and was familiar with the training exercise. At this time it is unclear if the safety harness was attached or failed, it is also possible that Mr. Gushaw suffered a medical episode before falling. Mr. Gushaw was a longtime volunteer, tour guide and member of the museum's board of trustees.

The SV Star of India is the world's oldest ship that still sails regularly. NAUTICAL LOG expresses sympathy to Mr. Gushaw's family, and his shipboard seafaring family.

Good Watch.

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