Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

[jjacobs007]

It was a beautiful afternoon,me and my just best friend of 4 months had arrived at the lake.We didnt have a boat, we arrived at goverment wash in his truck and as we set up camp i drank 3 beers,cooler just right and bbq grill to one side we were so happy,As we leaned the fishing poles against the truck,which was on the lake shore, we continued to set up camp,inflating the rafts and preparing for a great days fishing we suddenly found ourselves looking outward toward a island,not too far away that i have swam to before.So i said lets do it,lets swim there and he quickly agreed,he was younger and in great shape and as we began the swim he was leading,as we came to the half way point he suddenly became confused and scared,saying he couldnt make it no more,when i caught up to him he suddenly began to grab ahold of me and pull me under.I was so scared and i knew i needed to swim down and resurface several feet away from him.So there we were several feet apart and he said he cant make it.he wanted to swim back,but it was further,this i knew with my experiance,so i began to swim away as he grabbed the back of my shorts,then suddenly it came to us that i would swim him in by holding my trunks,it took me several hours it felt,but as our feet met the shore of the island we layed on the beach beyond tired for 30 min,
as we thanked god for saving us,soon we arrived back at the truck and threw all the camping stuff inside and drove home to think of where it went wrong as we watched captain ron.We went back there the next week and i swam with 2 life jackets, as he swam alone to see if he could make it and he did.This was mind over matter,but we both learned something that day.just wanted to tell another story,no stealing charcoal this time!.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Well, I would never try to swim any distance that I couldn't do easily. Anything of that matter that looks like a challenge, is not worth risking your life. If you two were kids, your mother should beat your bottoms good enough to make it hard to sit for the next week.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Swim out of your rafts or a boat, they come in handy in case of an emergency.

Next time take a bikini clad girl with you so if she pulls down your trunks it'll be worth it.

 

[joed]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

How did you get back from the island?

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Sorry, but.....

i drank 3 beers,

This has set the stage for more modern-day, water-related deaths than anything else imaginable.

You should know better & be knocked down to petty officer 2nd class.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

How did you get back from the island?

Just clicked their heels together three times and kept repeating "There's no place like home"....

 

[backyardhockey2]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Many years ago I went for a swim after a few beers. It was at night and the objective was a raft. Had never been to this lake b4. I'm a decent swimmer but had a real hard time making it to the raft. Maybe I had MORE than a few beers. Scared me pretty good. Looked at the distance from the dock to the raft the next morning and I couldn't believe it. Could of pissed that far! Lesson learned big time.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Judging distance over water and thinking it will be an easy swim have set the scene for many drownings. Throw in a few beers and you're really asking for trouble. Its good that you and you're friend made it alright. Panic never helps.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

I would agree with all of the above, and would also add in ...

A swimmer who is not confident enough to stop, float and rest for a few minutes doesn't need to take on "marathon" swims. A reasonably good swimmer can take a break and float and rest for a minute or three before resuming a swim - it used to be trained in lifeguarding among other things. If one doesn't know how to do that, then it's crazy to start a challenging swim - even stone cold sober.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

It is very hard to judge distances and even harder to judge a distance you can safely swim.

The issue with the beer is not one of drunk v. sober--it is a physical, rather than mental, impairment, like filling your pockets with sand first. Beer probably moreso than 3 shots of whisky due to the bloat factor.

Your friend's confusion also makes me think the cold water got to him--it doesn't take much. The hypothermia, like the alcohol, slows you way down, adn impairs your thinking ability.

Luckily you were somewhat prepared for his typical reaction of trying to climb on you, which is why many water rescues, even "easy" ones, end badly for the rescuer. His holding your trunks gave him the mental encouragement and took away his panic; that saved him b/c clearly he could ahev saved himself but for the panic. "Towing" the victim by a belt, stick, even piece of string works wonders and keeps you out of his reach.

Much to be learbned from experiences like this, which are quite typical. Thanks.

 

[madolive3]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Let me get this straight, You and a buddy went on a fishing trip and drank some beer. Then Instead of fishing you two decided to play in the water and he ended up pulling your shorts from the back and then you two laid on the beach????
Now I haven't seen the movie personally but your story sounds a lot like Brokeback mountain.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Let me get this straight, You and a buddy went on a fishing trip and drank some beer. Then Instead of fishing you two decided to play in the water and he ended up pulling your shorts from the back and then you two laid on the beach????
Now I haven't seen the movie personally but your story sounds a lot like Brokeback mountain.

rivermouse<just spilled coffee on him and dog sitting on floor beside him...

 

[sschefer]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Let me get this straight, You and a buddy went on a fishing trip and drank some beer. Then Instead of fishing you two decided to play in the water and he ended up pulling your shorts from the back and then you two laid on the beach????
Now I haven't seen the movie personally but your story sounds a lot like Brokeback mountain.

I'm still trying to figure why, if they were able to swim back did they need to try it again the next time. I smell a nasty fart...

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

You had inflatable rafts, but decided to swim instead. How about next time just using the raft and keep the swimming to close to shore.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

seriously! read the post for real!funny how many boaters here look at the post, then type without knowing the details.doesnt matter, i will still save them.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

How did you get back from the island?

there was a shallow reef that connected it to the main land,good for us we were so scared of swimming back,instead we wallked across it.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

I'm still trying to figure why, if they were able to swim back did they need to try it again the next time. I smell a nasty fart...

He was set on being able to swim that without being scared again.we never swam back!that same day.read duh!

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Sorry, but.....



This has set the stage for more modern-day, water-related deaths than anything else imaginable.

You should know better & be knocked down to petty officer 2nd class.

couldnt help it.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

Let me get this straight, You and a buddy went on a fishing trip and drank some beer. Then Instead of fishing you two decided to play in the water and he ended up pulling your shorts from the back and then you two laid on the beach????
Now I haven't seen the movie personally but your story sounds a lot like Brokeback mountain.

sorry you didnt get a role this time. ha ha ha

 

[V153]

Re: Help!! Im drowning, What would you do? true story!!!!

I smell a nasty fart...

Ya you'n me both. Phew!