Stay AWAY from Dams! (Sad Story)

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Bubba1235

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http://beta.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090701/NEWS/907010375


According to witnesses, the couple were boating next to the dam and their engine quit and would not restart. They had too small an anchor for the river current and it would not hold them and they went over the dam.

I have boated this river, right where they were at and the dam is not scary as there is only about a 6' drop and people do NOT understand how the water turbulance will take you under no matter how good a swimmer you are.

Oh, I should add, the construction worker that managed to save the woman is a pure hero in my book!
 
jay_merrill

jay_merrill

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Re: Stay AWAY from Dams! (Sad Story)

Saw that story - very amazing. I also think the construction worker is a hero. So is his boss, though. It was the boss who quickly took action to do the rescue. In this age of people being too afraid of lawsuits to do anything, this guy just did what had to be done. Lots of praise for the crane operator too - he deserves the "hero" tag also.
 
Blue Crabber

Blue Crabber

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Re: Stay AWAY from Dams! (Sad Story)

Very sad story indeed. No doubt she would have been gone too if she didn't get the life jacket on. As it was, they don't think she had much time left.

The construction workers are true heros indeed!
 
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salty87

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Re: Stay AWAY from Dams! (Sad Story)

Bubba1235 said:
the husband didn't put a PDF on.
Click to expand...

he probably had an outdated version and had to download an update, happens all the time.

sorry, that was bad.

going over a dam happens alot though. happened to a guy in austin a few years ago but he actually survived. came out nekked on the other side, nothing found of the boat.
 
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drrpm

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Re: Stay AWAY from Dams! (Sad Story)

Low Head dams are bad news to boaters. Novice canoers and kayakers sometimes run them because they don't look that dangerous. They are deadly with an incredible amount of pull back upstream that can keep a floating object indefinitely. The only ways out are to be pulled out or to be able to dive down into the outflow current. A PFD makes it more likely that you'll survive until someone pulls you out, but if your on your own you'll never get out with one on.
 
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