MAVILLETTE, DIGBY COUNTY, NS – Family and friends were saddened by the sudden death of a Yarmouth County man last week. His obituary says his death came during an activity he loved.
The Meteghan RCMP say emergency responders were called to Mavillette Beach in Mavillette, Digby County, on Jan. 24, after being alerted that a 53-year-old man was in distress while kite surfing with others.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the man died, said Sgt. Dan Gaudet of the Meteghan RCMP detachment.
The man was Russell Cushing of Dayton, Yarmouth County. His loved ones said in his obituary that it was with extreme sadness and shock that they had to announce his sudden and accidental death.
“Russell was a ‘Windchaser,’” reads his obituary. “He loved chasing the wind, pursuing his passion of kite surfing. Russell was always online watching the wind and checking wind apps on his phone, searching for the perfect conditions to kite.”
But while wind surfing was his passion, his obituary said his true love was his family. His obituary describes him as a caring and loving person.
Sgt. Gaudet said emergency responders were alerted on Jan. 24 by 911 call.
“We got a 911 call at 1:30 in the afternoon that there was a person in distress,” said. Sgt. Gaudet. “We responded with fire and ambulance. When we arrived there was some individuals on the shoreline performing CPR on the male.”
He was transported by EHS to the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
Because it is termed a sudden death, Sgt. Gaudet said an autopsy was to take place to help determine the cause of death and that the RCMP are working with the medical examiners office.
Cushing’s funeral was being held Jan. 29. Donations in memory could be made to the SOS Children’s Villages, Yarmouth Kia Comets care of Andrew Hiltz.
