Drowning tragedies

[dickythorpe]

Very sad.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-57884739

I'm always alarmed at the few that jump in to the SA1 waters by the Rasoi Indian restaurant.
Drowning is an obvious risk but the risk of ingestion and infection of the debris that builds up in there. Yuk!!!

 

[BLAZE]

Starfishing saved my life once

I was at a regular spot where we'd go swimming and my brand new flip flop (Calvin Klein, £10, Sports Direct) fell into the river. Without thinking I jumped in and swam after it. By the time I caught up with it I was downstream and around a blind corner. Swimming back I was against the current and only made it halfway across before the energy completely drained from my body and the lactic acid started to win over

I always thought that if I found myself in a life or death situation, I'd be able to call upon some inner strength to dig myself out of trouble... Nope. I was out of sight, out of shouting range and I knew I couldn't touch the bottom. I genuinely thought I was dead, but a last gasp thought came into my head to flip over and try to float. Luckily I did float and I was able to do so long enough to get some energy back. I eventually back stroked to the rivers edge and pulled myself out

I still have the flip flops

 

[Darran]

I remember a boy from Velindre diving into a lake in Margam Park on a boiling hot day when I was in school and dying instantly from a massive heart attack because the water was so cold.

 

[Fireboy]

Starfishing saved my life once

I was at a regular spot where we'd go swimming and my brand new flip flop (Calvin Klein, £10, Sports Direct) fell into the river. Without thinking I jumped in and swam after it. By the time I caught up with it I was downstream and around a blind corner. Swimming back I was against the current and only made it halfway across before the energy completely drained from my body and the lactic acid started to win over

I always thought that if I found myself in a life or death situation, I'd be able to call upon some inner strength to dig myself out of trouble... Nope. I was out of sight, out of shouting range and I knew I couldn't touch the bottom. I genuinely thought I was dead, but a last gasp thought came into my head to flip over and try to float. Luckily I did float and I was able to do so long enough to get some energy back. I eventually back stroked to the rivers edge and pulled myself out

I still have the flip flops

Jeez blaze you were lucky mate, we got taught that in our waterside rescue training, just try and float with your legs in front of you going with the flow.

At least you rescued your flip flop though

 

[MajorR]

Very sad.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-57884739

I'm always alarmed at the few that jump in to the SA1 waters by the Rasoi Indian restaurant.
Drowning is an obvious risk but the risk of ingestion and infection of the debris that builds up in there. Yuk!!!

Guy I know used to do a lot of windsurfing on a “pond” built on reclaimed land, he became extremely unwell and suffered all sorts of ill health issues for several years which doctors weren’t able to get to the bottom of, lost his driving licence and I suspect the only reason he kept his job was because his employers and bosses rated him. He stopped wind surfing and after several years his health improved. I just wonder if pollutants were the cause of the illness.

Swimming in reservoirs and quarries is foolish. Water underneath the surface is usually very good. Mate of mine pulled a kid out of a quarry, but couldn’t save him. Terribly sad.