An old friend of mine drowned while trying to save his drowning daughter.

Desdinova

Desdinova

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I decided to google an old friend's name to see what he had been up to. I had lost touch with him a few years ago and I kept getting linkedin invites from him, but I don't often use that website. It turns out he had taken his daughter swimming at a lake for her 11th birthday party. When she stepped off a shelf and went under he swam out to try to save her but neither of them came back.

I don't know the exact situation, but it's fairly common for rescuers to get drown by the person they are trying to rescue. It's just a sad situation all around.
 
That was their duty in life, and they lived by that. Sorry to hear this, and I hope their family knows and remember their sacrifice. RIP
 
That's really horrible for their family. Sad situation all around.

I must ask, though: how the hell did a grown man drown in a lake...?
 
CerebralKnievel said:
That's really horrible for their family. Sad situation all around.

I must ask, though: how the hell did a grown man drown in a lake...?
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I don't know. He was a super athletic guy. Like I said earlier, it's easy for the rescuer to get drown by the drowning victim they are trying to rescue. The victim will instinctively try to climb on top of the person that is trying to rescue them. Rescue crews had a hard time finding the bodies because of poor visibility.

This news has taken me aback. He was an all around good guy.
 
Desdinova said:
I don't know. He was a super athletic guy. Like I said earlier, it's easy for the rescuer to get drown by the drowning victim they are trying to rescue. The victim will instinctively try to climb on top of the person that is trying to rescue them. Rescue crews had a hard time finding the bodies because of poor visibility.

This news has taken me aback. He was an all around good guy.
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That's horrible. That poor girl. I feel for both of them and their family. A tragic loss.
 
Desdinova said:
I don't know. He was a super athletic guy. Like I said earlier, it's easy for the rescuer to get drown by the drowning victim they are trying to rescue. The victim will instinctively try to climb on top of the person that is trying to rescue them. Rescue crews had a hard time finding the bodies because of poor visibility.

This news has taken me aback. He was an all around good guy.
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That's sad as hell.

True story. Me and the Lady were at the beach one day and it started raining. She isn't the best swimmer, and the rain and waves started her freakimg out, and she started to slip under the water. When I went to "save" her, she was instinctually grasping at anything, and raking my face and pulling on me. I punched her in the face, and she settled down enough, probably out of flat out defeat, and I was able to tow her onto the beach. I'll never ever forget that day.

Sometimes you have to calm them by whatever means necessary. Shit happens so fast, so you have to just react with violent means, if it comes to that.

So sorry for your bud and the daughter. Life is cruel af.
 
Desdinova said:
I don't know. He was a super athletic guy. Like I said earlier, it's easy for the rescuer to get drown by the drowning victim they are trying to rescue. The victim will instinctively try to climb on top of the person that is trying to rescue them. Rescue crews had a hard time finding the bodies because of poor visibility.

This news has taken me aback. He was an all around good guy.
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Yup. I worked as a life guard at both swimming pools and beaches in the past and one of the first things you learn when doing all your medals and qualifications is how to tread water and protect yourself from a person you are trying to save. The natural thing to do is to swim right up and try to get a hold of them but they will panic and grab you. You need to get around behind them. If they turn to face and grab you, just tread water and kick them back. You can also swim under them and come up behind them so that you can control them. Sadly, all things a novice won't be thinking about when he is pumping adrenaline and jumping in to save a daughter.

Swimming rescue and survival skills should be taught to everyone growing up. Specially things like how to spot rips if you are going to ever swim or visit a beach.
 
Oeshon said:
Yup. I worked as a life guard at both swimming pools and beaches in the past and one of the first things you learn when doing all your medals and qualifications is how to tread water and protect yourself from a person you are trying to save. The natural thing to do is to swim right up and try to get a hold of them but they will panic and grab you. You need to get around behind them. If they turn to face and grab you, just tread water and kick them back. You can also swim under them and come up behind them so that you can control them. Sadly, all things a novice won't be thinking about when he is pumping adrenaline and jumping in to save a daughter.

Swimming rescue and survival skills should be taught to everyone growing up. Specially things like how to spot rips if you are going to ever swim or visit a beach.
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It seems to me that, even if you are a good swimmer, you are putting your own life in danger when trying to save someone in open water without a flotation device. It's a lot different than in swimming pools.
 
Desdinova said:
It seems to me that, even if you are a good swimmer, you are putting your own life in danger when trying to save someone in open water without a flotation device. It's a lot different than in swimming pools.
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That is the ideal scenario but as you know with emergencies, you can't always be prepared as they are unexpected. The same techniques do work though.
 
Very sorry to hear that. RIP. Life is so fragile.
 
Desdinova said:
It seems to me that, even if you are a good swimmer, you are putting your own life in danger when trying to save someone in open water without a flotation device. It's a lot different than in swimming pools.
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You certainly are, and it certainly is.

Don't worry about sweet platitudes, you need to control the situation if you wish to survive, and bring the drowning person with you.
 
What makes me even more angry is that there is a site cheering at their deaths, not because they knew them, but because of their race. It's one of the first search results when you search for his picture.
 
Desdinova said:
What makes me even more angry is that there is a site cheering at their deaths, not because they knew them, but because of their race. It's one of the first search results when you search for his picture.
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Seriously? WTF Didn't think the story could get any worse.

It sure as fuck did.
 
Horrible stuff...and as for the cheering...there are a lot of horrible people on this earth
 
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