New Evidence on Accident at Lewis Smith with FLW John Cox and Bryan New.

By Luigi De Rose

On the final day of the recent FLW Tour event at Lewis Smith, tournament angler John Cox and his marshall Bryan New were ejected from their FLW Tour Ranger boat that was piloted by Cox. The most shocking element of the Sunday, March 29, 2015 event was that each angler's Personal Floatation Devices (PFD) fail to inflate and keep each them afloat. Both anglers were wearing PFDs not a lifejacket. This potentially lethal situation has prompted more questions than answers.  PFD are very popular for their light weight and ease of wear but now many are questioning their value. 

Mustang Survival, one of the manufacturers involved in this accident, created a press release to help clarify the matter. 

Here is their statement:

On Sunday, March 29, 2015, pro angler John Cox and his marshall, Bryan New, were thrown from their boat during an FLW bass fishing tournament on Lewis Smith Lake, Alabama. We are thankful both men sustained only minor injuries in this serious incident.

Media reports indicated Cox’s Mustang Survival Inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) malfunctioned, however we have confirmed these reports were incorrect. Cox was wearing a manual inflatable PFD designed to only inflate upon pulling the manual inflation cord.

The incident highlights two key things for people to be aware of:

(1)   Inflation method – Mustang Survival suggests the use of automatic inflatable PFDs for bass fishing. In the event of unconsciousness, they will automatically inflate to float and self-right the wearer, keeping the mouth and nose out of the water.

(2)   Inspection & Maintenance – Inflatable PFDs are a technical piece of equipment that should be inspected annually at the same time as your regular boat maintenance. A visual inspection followed by an oral inflation test is all it takes to make sure your PFD is in good working condition. Check your user manual for detailed instructions.

“Our team is committed to building quality products that work when they are needed most,” said Jason Leggatt, Vice President, Commercial at Mustang Survival.  “We take these incidents seriously and will be stepping up our efforts to educate people on choosing the best PFD for their activities and on how to properly maintain them.”

The Safariland Group Acquires Mustang Survival

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Safariland Group (the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of protective products and equipment primarily for law enforcement and the military, has acquired Mustang Survival and its related entities, Mustang Survival Inc. and Mustang Survival Mfg., Inc. (collectively, “Mustang Survival”).

Mustang Survival is the North American market leader in lifesaving equipment for recreational, military, law enforcement and industrial users in the marine and aviation environments. For more than 45 years, Mustang Survival has been transforming innovative ideas and technologies into high-quality and practical lifesaving products such as inflatable personal flotation devices, flotation clothing, dry suits, anti-g suits and a wide range of products to protect serious users in extreme environments.

“We are excited to be bringing together two companies that are both committed to saving lives as a part of their core mission,” said Scott O’Brien, president of The Safariland Group. “Mustang Survival’s history of lifesaving marine and aviation equipment has presented unique growth opportunities for our company, especially as we aim to broaden our suite of products that help save lives.”

The Safariland Group, acquired by an affiliate of Kanders and Company, Inc. in July 2012, is globally expanding its current brands while pursuing acquisitions aligned with its mission of “Together, We Save Lives.” Mustang Survival represents the Company’s first acquisition in the marine and aviation industries.

Mustang Survival HIT Inflatable PFD Safety Alert

In keeping with Mustang Survival’s commitment to the highest levels of quality and safety, we are notifying the public of an urgent advisory for specific Hydrostatic inflatable PFDs manufactured during April and May of 2012. A portion of these PFDs may be subject to delayed or non-inflations. To determine if you are impacted by this precautionary advisory please reference the instructions below.

The following Mustang Survival US and Canadian products are affected:

US PRODUCTS	CANADIAN PRODUCTS
MA7214 HIT inflatable re-arm kit	MA7214 HIT inflatable re-arm kit
MA7218 HIT inflatable re-arm kit for LIFT	MD3153 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT
MD0450 Inflatable Vest PFD with LIFT	MD3154 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT (with harness)
MD0451 Inflatable Vest PFD with LIFT (no harness)	MD3157 Inflatable Work Vest with HIT
MD3183 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT
MD3184 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT (with harness)
MD3188 Inflatable Work Vest with HIT

The potentially affected products were made in Canada during April and May of 2012. If your PFD falls into this category we recommend you visit www.mustangsurvival.com/HIT or call 1-800-526-0532 for further information. The model number, manufacturing location and date of manufacture is printed on the white approval label on the back of the PFD.

All other Mustang Survival inflatable PFD products are not part of this advisory.

Contact:

For complete details, visit www.mustangsurvival.com/HIT or call 1-800-526-0532