Tiffany Tanner DIED FROM SHOCK

Sudden plunge into cold water killed N.S. kayaker
Last Updated Thu, 09 Mar 2006 11:42:55 EST
CBC News
German authorities say Nova Scotia kayaker Tiffany Tanner
died almost instantly when she fell out of her kayak into a
canal in Hamm 2½ weeks ago.
Prosecutor Heiko Oltmanns said Thursday that autopsy
results revealed the 20-year-old native of Dartmouth,
N.S., went into shock when she hit the cold water.
She died when she couldn't take in enough air,
Oltmanns said.
"It's clear that this death was not the result of a violent
crime. Instead, it was simply a tragic accident," he said
in German.
A canal worker found Tanner's body in a harbour along
the Datteln-Hamm canal Wednesday morning.
The former competitive paddler, who moved to Germany
to work as an au pair, was not wearing a life-jacket or wetsuit
when she went paddling down the canal on Feb. 19.
Her kayaking partners led the way back to the boathouse.
When they looked back, Tanner was gone.
Her overturned kayak was later found under a bridge.
Even as a good swimmer, Tanner would not have had a
chance in the 3 C water, Oltmanns said.
"When the body suddenly falls into very cold water, it
goes into shock and can't breathe properly, causing death
within a matter of seconds."
Oltmanns said there's no indication Tanner fell out of the
kayak because she was intoxicated, but officials have
ordered toxicology tests anyway.
The results are expected in three to four weeks.
Tanner's parents have flown to Hamm to retrieve her body.

LINK:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/09/kayaker-shock060309.html