The eternal flame flickered a little today
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A paddler participating in the Texas Water Safari, an endurance boat race on the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers, died this afternoon at a San Antonio hospital, marking the first fatality in the event's 50-year history.
Brad Ellis, 30, was pronounced dead around 2 p.m. at San Antonio Military Medical Center after he was flown there early Sunday, according to a hospital spokesman.
Allen Spelce, president of the Texas Water Safari, said Ellis died of hyponatremia, or low sodium.
“It goes against logic,” said Spelce. “You think, ‘Drink water, drink water,' but you're expelling all of that sodium, through sweat and using the bathroom, and not getting the replacements.”
Ellis, of Dripping Springs, was participating in his first water safari, Spelce said, paddling an aluminum boat with teammate Ian Rolls, 34. Ellis reportedly began to feel ill around 4:30 a.m. Sunday and was lying down in their canoe, Boat No. 22, when he fell out of the boat about 11 miles downriver from Gonzales on the Guadalupe River, according to Game Warden Dan Waddell of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Rolls got out of the boat, Spelce said, and pulled Ellis to the river bank. A passing boat saw the commotion and activated their emergency alert system and called 9-1-1, summoning emergency responders, including an ambulance and medical helicopter.
Ellis was conscious but “totally out of it,” Spelce said, when he was loaded onto a helicopter and flown to San Antonio. Waddell stayed with Rolls, who rode with the team's captain to San Antonio.
“He was visibly, emotionally upset,” said Waddell. “He was just lamenting, because this was his best friend, and he was very worried about his physical condition.”
The men scratched from the race at mile 98.19 of the 260-mile race dubbed “the world's toughest canoe race,” which began at the headwaters of the San Marcos River on Saturday and ends in Seadrift.
Relatives then joined Rolls at Ellis' bedside in the Intensive Care Unit, race officials said.
A call for prayers was sent out to Ellis' followers on TexasBowhunter.com, where he chronicled his preparations for the race under the name “Concho Man.” A number of readers responded with comments, and many changed their profile pictures in Ellis' memory.
On Monday, Rolls spoke to Spelce and other race officials, and asked them to remind other racers to be mindful of their health.
“He said ‘If you feel sick or feel tired, to wear a life jacket,' and he wanted us to tell people to drink, eat and get the proper electrolyte intake,” Spelce said.
Bob Spain, a board member for the water safari, said Ellis' death dramatically changed the mood of the race. By late Monday, not all of the participants were aware of the death, he said.
“This has been by far the biggest year we've ever had, and the 50th anniversary,” Spain said. “For his family, it's just so tragic. The loss of such a young man... we're all just sick about it.”
Hyponatremia, typically known to affect extreme runners, has become more common as endurance races of all types have grown more popular, Spelce said. Although athletes may think they're getting all they need by simply drinking water, other nutrients including sodium must be replaced to maintain the body's balance of water to salt, according to medical websites.
Spelce said Ellis had been taking electrolyte pills, but it was not immediately known if they had properly dissolved in his body. Ellis and Rolls had been training regularly, Spelce said, and had placed second in the Texas River Marathon, a 40-mile race known as the precursor to the water safari.
“He was pretty up to speed. He was training hard, they were doing runs — he was doing everything right,” Spelce said.
One of Ellis' recent posts especially haunted commenters remembering the young man who worked in the Austin office of lobbying firm Ryan & Co. Dated May 7, one of Concho Man's more detailed entries reads:
“Only issue I'm having, and I've been this way my whole life, is the amount of water I consume ... Everyone who sees the two 1 gallon jugs (for me) in our boat always say that's way too much water. But to me, I need it.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/loc...#ixzz1xWxFa77GComment
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My youngest son Cade is 5 and has been sitting here in my lap as i read the stories and looked at the pics of Concho Man he says Dad, dont you wish he was your friend? He sure has a lot of friends they are good to have aint they? I wanna shoot a turkey in the head to like him......my little boy sure makes me feel goodComment
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Hi guys,
I never post on this thread but I know Brad did so I want to now.
Thank all of you for the P/M's & text and such. It helps.
Seeing a six foot tall & bullet proof kid so full of life the way I did when I walked into ICU on Sunday morning brought me to my knees in tears. Brad had a real heart of gold and loved TBH & all the folks on it as much as we love him. Brad and our group text each other more than school girls. (12k text a month is about our average
) Brad & I got to spend a lot of time together in person because we only lived an hour away from each other. The last time I talked to Brad on the phone was friday morning....
I mourned with Yall from the sidelines when Alan went to Heaven & cried with Yall when Blaine & John Lee joined him. And now one of my best buds is up there hunting with them too.
A reporter for our local news interviewed me this morning. I told her that I would talk about Brad and that's it. She asked how we met and I told her on the TexasBowhunter.com website. She said that she was amazed on what is going on here and about the huge outcry of support for Brad, his Family & friends. She said that she has never seen so many people become family like we are here from an internet website. Especially with males. She made it sound like she wants to do a story on TBH too.
I can't ask Yall enough to Pray for Brad's family, Buck & Ian....
Thanks again so much! TBH has seriously changed my life. I've been Blessed with amazing friends & opportunities that I know for a fact would have never come about without it.Last edited by Pablo Honey; 06-12-2012, 05:43 PM.Comment
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Done deal Pablo, prayers continue for Brad's family and the many friends that mourn his loss. I am sure his homegoing celebration will be a memory maker and I am sure he is smiling upon all of us even now.Originally posted by Pablo Honey View PostHi guys,
I never post on this thread but I know Brad did so I want to now.
Thank all of you for the P/M's & text and such. It helps.
Seeing a six foot tall & bullet proof kid so full of life the way I did when I walked into ICU on Sunday morning brought me to my knees in tears. Brad had a real heart of gold and loved TBH & all the folks on it as much as we love him. Brad and our group text each other more than school girls. (12k text a month is about our average) Brad & I got to spend a lot of time together in person because we only lived an hour away from each other. The last time I talked to Brad on the phone was friday morning....
I mourned with Yall from the sidelines when Alan went to Heaven & cried with Yall when Blaine & John Lee joined him. And now one of my best buds is up there hunting with them too.
A reporter for our local news interviewed me this morning. I told her that I would talk about Brad and that's it. She asked how we met and I told her on the TexasBowhunter.com website. She said that she was amazed on what is going on here and about the huge outcry of support for Brad, his Family & friends. She said that she has never seen so many people become family like we are here from an internet website. Especially with males. She made it sound like she wants to do a story on TBH too.
I can't ask Yall enough to Pray for Brad's family, Buck & Ian....
Thanks again so much! TBH has seriously changed my life. I've been Blessed with amazing friends & opportunities that I know for a fact would have never come about without it.
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Got hammered with hail in the M Streets tonight.
Crazy
Sure is gloomy.
It's a time to mourn.
the small thingsLast edited by Legdog; 06-13-2012, 06:43 PM.Comment
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I thought that was your hood watching the radar. Hope your stuff didn't get beat up too bad.Originally posted by Legdog View PostComment
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I joined TBH last fall, I must say these people are the best people I have ever came in contact with. After a tough day of work, the kiddos, the dogs. I always seem to migrate to the green screen... for what ? to brag on my gal, kiddos and my dog! I have learned soo much from this place. like how to clean up a beautiful shotgun my dad gave me, how to hook up a solar panel for my game cam, what kind of lift kit to get for my 4X4 crew, and some good contacts for a dog trainer. I feel a calming sence of humanity from each and every one of yall ( and not just from the tragic events of this week). If I can ever do something for any of you please feel free to let me know... Cant wait to meet ya'll. I live in Keller and hunt in Bosque co. If'in you see that black Silverado 4x4 crew with the TBH sticker and a yeller lab in the back seat thats "Luke aka S***head) " catch my attention we can meet officially " hand to hand " not just a head nod like these younguns now a days. Dad always taught me to shake a mans hand and look him in the eye. Sorry for rambling... Just my way of saying Thank you for letting me share your lives!
God bless all ya'llComment
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That's well put, brother!Originally posted by brianwalker42 View Post
I've spent pretty much all my life in Keller and still work there. White Chevy dually with a green sticker on the back window.
Come meet quite a few of us next Wed at Flips on Western Center, and you can shake a whole buncha hands while we celebrate the life of our fallen friend.Comment
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Originally posted by Pablo Honey View PostHi guys,
I never post on this thread but I know Brad did so I want to now.
Thank all of you for the P/M's & text and such. It helps.
Seeing a six foot tall & bullet proof kid so full of life the way I did when I walked into ICU on Sunday morning brought me to my knees in tears. Brad had a real heart of gold and loved TBH & all the folks on it as much as we love him. Brad and our group text each other more than school girls. (12k text a month is about our average) Brad & I got to spend a lot of time together in person because we only lived an hour away from each other. The last time I talked to Brad on the phone was friday morning....
I mourned with Yall from the sidelines when Alan went to Heaven & cried with Yall when Blaine & John Lee joined him. And now one of my best buds is up there hunting with them too.
A reporter for our local news interviewed me this morning. I told her that I would talk about Brad and that's it. She asked how we met and I told her on the TexasBowhunter.com website. She said that she was amazed on what is going on here and about the huge outcry of support for Brad, his Family & friends. She said that she has never seen so many people become family like we are here from an internet website. Especially with males. She made it sound like she wants to do a story on TBH too.
I can't ask Yall enough to Pray for Brad's family, Buck & Ian....
Thanks again so much! TBH has seriously changed my life. I've been Blessed with amazing friends & opportunities that I know for a fact would have never come about without it.
God Bless you, Paul...and the rest of those so close to Brad. We're all better off with folks like you here.Comment
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Awesome post, Paul!!! Love you, amigo!!!
Skinny
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Pablo, Brad understood the Flame, he "Got it". Prayers of comfort and understanding to all the friends and family who held him so close.Comment
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Good morning TBH, gonna be another scorcher.Comment
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Good MorningComment
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Good morning TBHers. Going to be some hail sales in the Dallas area soon.Comment
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