Tragic weekend

[jinman]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support. This was a stressful weekend for us, but now things have quickly calmed down and returned to normal for us. The sad part is that the family and friends of the deceased are just starting to deal with the grief of loss.

I made a point to allow the emergency workers onto my land for access to the lake, but to stay completely out of their way. Last night, Kathy and I went down to the lake to do a quick cleanup of anything they might have left behind. There was nothing. They didn't leave a single piece of trash or even a water bottle. It was as if they had never been there. The lake was calm and one person was fishing on the far bank. It's strange how quickly things return to nomal. Maybe that's a blessing.

 

[MrWoodChips]

Yes, that certainly is a tragic occurrence. I wonder how many people think you can swim, crawl, or whatever through moss and water plants. I might have thought that if I hadn't almost drowned in some moss in Lake Murray in Oklahoma when I was 10 or 12 years old. It looks like you ought to be able to swim right through it, but it doesn't work that way.

It is a tragic thing to happen. A similar thing happened in a park near us when several people died in some weeds. That lake is now closed to swimming completely.

I'd suggest it is an issue of keeping your wits about you. It is too easy to get confused or panic when you feel the weeds on your legs. Remain floating. If you know how to float on the water, then you can float in the weeds. Use a breast stroke to open up a path through the weeds/junk. Pull yourself through it, rather than kicking your legs at all. Kicking will only tangle your legs in the weeds, creating more panic. Of course, a life jacket is of supreme importance for anyone who is not completely comfortable in the water. I am, and I wear a life jacket in our boat anyway.

I've gone through heavy weeds/algae before, pulling a small sailboat (complete with passenger, but with centerboard up) through our heavy junk near shore to get to open water.

John

 

[pennwalk]

When bad things happen I try to see if I can learn anything. In so many cases if the person had only been wearing their life preserver they would still be with us. There seem to be plenty of reasons not to wear them,I'm a good swimmer, it is too hot, they chafe, I left it in the car. You can buy automatic inflatable vests. They are light, easy to wear and don't look too silly. Sure they cost but if you ever need it it would be cheap. Save a life, buy them and wear them.

Chris

 

[N80]

Totally agree about life jackets. But still have to wonder if something else was going on. I've got a 10 acre lake and it is often choked with pond weeds. We swim in it all the time. And the weeds can slow you down and make swimming really hard......but they don't make it hard to float....and I'm a skinny guy so I don't float all that well to begin with.

Makes me wonder about two possibilities. 1) Heart attack. Did the weeds, swimming and excitment cause him to have an MI? Was he heavy, smoker, in bad shape? 2) Pure panic and forgot to just float or tread water? I can see this happening with the weeds slowing you down, progress stops, muscles burning and exhausted and then panicing to the point where you forget to just stop struggling and float...or even just stand up...people drown in water that isn't over their head sometimes.

In any case, its just pure speculation and doesn't change a thing. A life jacket would have made the difference. Not leaving the boat would have made the difference, especially if you are in poor physical shape. Moral of the story is still the same....but remembering not to panic is important too.

 

[dmccarty]

That is a very sad event. Really feel for the kids and wife. Especally that they had to witness his death.

Every spring we have a couple of drownings due to the cold water. The air temp can be in the 80s or even 90s but the water is still in the 50s. The "rule" I have read is that 50 yards from shore, 50 degree water temps, 50/50 chance of making it to land.

A few people every spring don't make it.

Horrible event. And afterwards there is no lingering sign that it happened. Just the invisible scars that the family will carry.

So Sad.

Later,
Dan

 

[AlanB]

Sorry it happened Jim, but thanks for posting it. It should serve as a reminder for all of us as far as safety is concerned. It can all go so wrong, so fast.

 

[jinman]

Link to local newspaper story.

Wise County Messenger