Can't swim?

[Wicky]

or know someone who can't?
I yanked a guy out of the water the other day that fell off the dock, in between the stern of the pontoon and the dock, at the ramp. Nobody around, except me and the sheriff, who I had been visiting with for 20 minutes. Guy was standing on the dock and then he wasn't. I didn't see him fall in, but my spidey senses registered something was missing. Then, I see a hat on top of the water. Dude was trying to hold on to the stern of the boat, but was losing. I sprinted over there and son of a bitch, he was struggling, not making a peep. Battling n the cold, Snake river, water. He was too big for even the sheriff and I to pull out of the water. We needed a 3rd to get him out. Ended well for him though. No trip to the morgue, luckily. This is the 3rd instance I have been a part of, all the same scenario. Someone getting into their boat and slip off in between the dock and boat.
Wtf...going out on the water and not knowing how to swim deserves a Darwin award, if not wearing a life jacket.

 

[fat rat]

He was lucky to have you both there!

 

[Wicky]

His number definitely wasn't up.

 

[QC22]

My Stepfather can't swim. Always wears a life jacket.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Glad you were there...could have been ugly. I have a friend that has in the past owned standups, but is now boat bound. Age, and now the onset of Parkinsons, has made it impossible to swim He always has his vest on in the boat. My parents had kind of the same issue. They were fair swimmers growing up. By no means athletes, but what I'd call "water safe". In their late 50's, an incident launching the boat led them to being much more cautious, and wear vests. I don't know the gentleman's age or health you dealt with, but sometimes those things can sneak up on you.

I'm sure he was embarrassed...and cold...but I'm sure he and his family appreciate what you guys did.

 

[Water Romper]

I assume your referring to the "Snake" in Idaho- That water is FREEZING right now and the current is fast (like the Boise River too) That guy should go buy a lottery ticket as you and the sheriff are his lucky charms. Good for you to take charge and act, you may have just saved a life!!

 

[lakemadness]

Blows my mind that some dont know how to swim? wtf?

It's like saying you dont know how to take a shit or blink your eyes or walk or?

Fuckin crazy...

 

[Wicky]

Glad you were there...could have been ugly. I have a friend that has in the past owned standups, but is now boat bound. Age, and now the onset of Parkinsons, has made it impossible to swim He always has his vest on in the boat. My parents had kind of the same issue. They were fair swimmers growing up. By no means athletes, but what I'd call "water safe". In their late 50's, an incident launching the boat led them to being much more cautious, and wear vests. I don't know the gentleman's age or health you dealt with, but sometimes those things can sneak up on you.

I'm sure he was embarrassed...and cold...but I'm sure he and his family appreciate what you guys did.

I was fishing the TBF national semi finals last fall and my coangler fell out while we were underway. Totally could have ended bad but, the jacket did it's job.

 

[WAAZ]

There’s some really informative vids about “what drowning looks/sounds like”. Usually it’s like you experienced - pretty subdued, nothing at all like a frantic whaling around that most would associate drowning with. I’ll try and post a link - good to share with your water bound crew.

 

[Wicky]

Glad you were there...could have been ugly. I have a friend that has in the past owned standups, but is now boat bound. Age, and now the onset of Parkinsons, has made it impossible to swim He always has his vest on in the boat. My parents had kind of the same issue. They were fair swimmers growing up. By no means athletes, but what I'd call "water safe". In their late 50's, an incident launching the boat led them to being much more cautious, and wear vests. I don't know the gentleman's age or health you dealt with, but sometimes those things can sneak up on you.

I'm sure he was embarrassed...and cold...but I'm sure he and his family appreciate what you guys did.

He was old and definitely not in good, physical shape.
He couldn't talk for 10 minutes after pulling him out. Shock I think.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

My sister can't swim.
We have grown up boating. Always been around pools. She is terrified of being in the water without a life vest. She will ski, knee board, wake board, and ride stand up jet skis all day long, but put her in the water without a vest or a floatation device and she panics. To be fair, when we were real young, guessing 4-5 years old, she drowned at Lake Powell and was revived. Hearing the story from my parents and grandparents, it was total chaos! She has a boat and is always out on the water to this day though.

 

[River Runnin]

I was WSQ-1 (Water Survival Qualified) in the service to get my Crew chief wings. 45 years later I'd a fooking died when I jumped in to take a piss if the crew on my boat (WMI Rescue) wasn't there to help me back in the boat! -- I just didn't have the strength to pull my Fat ass up the dive steps! -- The brain say one thing! But the consequences can be devastating!

Oh! Ya! --- I luv'd Runnin & fishing the Snake!

 

[paradise]

There’s some really informative vids about “what drowning looks/sounds like”. Usually it’s like you experienced - pretty subdued, nothing at all like a frantic whaling around that most would associate drowning with. I’ll try and post a link - good to share with your water bound crew.

I think it’s a fair thing to practice with your kids to be able to say “help” when needed. We boat on the lower river and the current is quick. Even people in life jackets or that can swim well can get surprised in a hurry.

We try to put the kids in a controlled situation but where they are unable to keep headway against the current and teach them to yell “help“ loud. You’d be surprised even after talking through what you‘re going to do and what you want them to do, once any panic sets in they lock up verbally. You can almost physically see when they regain enough composure to yell help. I think it helps in general to teach them how to control their panic.

 

[gqchris]

Blows my mind that some dont know how to swim? wtf?

It's like saying you dont know how to take a shit or blink your eyes or walk or?

Fuckin crazy...

I grew up pretty poor and alot of my friends are black or latino. They were not offered the benefit of swim classes or family activities that revolved around water. Its not a skill that you are "born" with. Luckily, I was given swim lessons since my Dad was in Air Force when younger, but most werent as lucky.

Im still friends with most of my childhood friends. I have 3 that still don't know how to swim. Do they love boating with me? Hell Yes! They just wear their jackets. Noone cares and its a great time.

My wife is from Central America, guess what? She doesnt know how to swim. When we are underway or near a dock, she wears her jacket.
She loves the lake, but almost drowned as a kid also like mentioned above. I have always asked her would she like to take lessons and she says she rather not at the moment. Im OK with that. She floats in the open water with her jacket on which is a HUGE step then when we met 10 years ago. I was proud of that. She has only done the boating thing with me since I have a passion for it.

Its more of a culture thing so please dont think its laziness or as easy as taking a morning shit.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've told the story before. I taught swim lessons at a HS pool during summers to pay for club swimming and water polo. I ended up with "adult beginners" usually. 2-3 nights a week, individuals. Had a guy in his late 50s at the time. Tatted up, hard looking guy, very cool but intimidating...director figured I was the best fit.

The guy was afraid of water. It took some time to get him to the point of being comfortable standing in water. After a couple weeks, he was swimming. At the end of the first week, I asked him why he felt like he needed to learn to swim. He told me something that sticks with me today, 30 years later. He'd grown up swimming in lakes and such in the Midwest. Then he was drafted...
In Vietnam, a blast had knocked him unconscious in a rice patty. He'd almost drown, and was wounded. (Pretty sure I'd fear water too) He went on to tell me he had a grandkid now, and another on the way.
He wanted to go into the pool with them.

I've taught probably a 150-200 kids how to swim. Maybe a 10-15 adults. He's the one that sticks out in my memories.

 

[gqchris]

My Stepfather can't swim. Always wears a life jacket.

Its more common than people think.

Hell, Im not sure I could keep my fat ass afloat in the freezing water with current!

I've told the story before. I taught swim lessons at a HS pool during summers to pay for club swimming and water polo. I ended up with "adult beginners" usually. 2-3 nights a week, individuals. Had a guy in his late 50s at the time. Tatted up, hard looking guy, very cool but intimidating...director figured I was the best fit.

The guy was afraid of water. It took some time to get him to the point of being comfortable standing in water. After a couple weeks, he was swimming. At the end of the first week, I asked him why he felt like he needed to learn to swim. He told me something that sticks with me today, 30 years later. He'd grown up swimming in lakes and such in the Midwest. Then he was drafted...
In Vietnam, a blast had knocked him unconscious in a rice patty. He'd almost drown, and was wounded. (Pretty sure I'd fear water too) He went on to tell me he had a grandkid now, and another on the way.
He wanted to go into the pool with them.

I've taught probably a 150-200 kids how to swim. Maybe a 10-15 adults. He's the one that sticks out in my memories.

Thats awesome brother. Everyone has their own reasons on why or why not.

On the same note, people think its totally insane when I say I have dated at least 3 different girls that couldnt ride a bike. Say what? we all know how to ride a bike, right? No, alot of people were never taught or had parents that could afford or buy a bike.

Glad they were skilled at riding in different ways

 

[CLdrinker]

How the hell can an adult not know how to swim? I’m not a good swimmer, but I could keep myself from drowning unless I would have to swim for a long time.

I didn’t know how to swim until my parents bought a pool. Soon as it got full. I said fuck it and jumped in the deep end and figured it out real quick lol.

 

[FlatNv]

guys lucky you where there

 

[jetboatperformance]

I was a "fish" when younger , water polo , Surf (pre leashes ) but at this point I'd be screaming "help me" like a little girl if I fell in the kiddie pool .... Vest up !

 

[Boatymcboatface]

How the hell can an adult not know how to swim? I’m not a good swimmer, but I could keep myself from drowning unless I would have to swim for a long time.

I didn’t know how to swim until my parents bought a pool. Soon as it got full. I said fuck it and jumped in the deep end and figured it out real quick lol.

My dad is 83years old and can doggy paddle kinda! He put a pool in the house we grew up in when I was in high school. If it wasn’t for the fact that he could sink then push of the bottom he would’ve drowned hundreds of times!



Guess that’s the by product of growing up a poor Mexican in barrio Logan San Diego.


On the other side of the tracks is where my mom grew up not rich but not poor and she did water ballet and was a swim instructor at the YMCA in downtown San Diego.

Brother and I both did swim team as kids But still my dad never learned to swim! That’s the by product of growing up a stubborn old Mexican I guess?

 

[lakemadness]

How the hell can an adult not know how to swim? I’m not a good swimmer, but I could keep myself from drowning unless I would have to swim for a long time.

I didn’t know how to swim until my parents bought a pool. Soon as it got full. I said fuck it and jumped in the deep end and figured it out real quick lol.

For real. I cannot understand how someone couldn't swim... You just tread water or paddle... You dont have to do an olympic type swim lol.

What do people do when they dont know how to swim? Do they just stay completely still and sink? I cant wrap my mind around this...

 

[GreenEnergy28]

For real. I cannot understand how someone couldn't swim... You just tread water or paddle... You dont have to do an olympic type swim lol.

What do people do when they dont know how to swim? Do they just stay completely still and sink? I cant wrap my mind around this...

There are a number of people who just aren't comfortable in the water is surprisingly enough. They spend a lot of energy almost fighting the water rather than relaxing and using movements that keep your head above water.
There's a kid that was on my son's water polo and swim team this year who could barely keep his head out of water. This kid is a star wrestler at the school with a 4.5 GPA. He plans to join the Navy after graduation, so he decided to try to play polo and swim his senior year to help him learn how to swim. Much respect for the kid to be so good at wrestling and decide to come do something he knew he sucked at in order to better himself for the Navy.

 

[River Runnin]

For real. I cannot understand how someone couldn't swim... You just tread water or paddle... You dont have to do an olympic type swim lol.

What do people do when they dont know how to swim? Do they just stay completely still and sink? I cant wrap my mind around this...

Wait till you youngsters get into your 60's!

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

There is swimming and then there is just surviving in water. Some people are more naturally buoyant. I am not.

Most people can get in the water and if they completely relax their body they will float for the most part. If I do that the majority of my body is under water. I can swim okay but I have to expend a lot of energy just to stay above water. I have trouble swimming long distances. If I have to I'll flip over on my back so my face is out of the water.

I don't understand how an adult doesn't know how to at least tread water or turn over and float on your back. I think we were taught that as kids in school. I guess schools have a much different agenda now.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Growing up we had the only pool on our block. We taught many neighbor kids how to swim. Never taught any adults. For the kids, once you got them comfortable, put their face in the water and blow bubbles, the rest was relatively easy.

 

[RichL]

Been swimming all my life but the moment I stop moving I go straight to the bottom.

 

[checkrdpast]

Yeah, i don't get it. My 4 month old grandson gets his first swimming lesson today!

 

[dave29]

We get out of town people coming down the river from an RV park about a mile up the road. People just don't get it.
Parents with kids in inner tubes going down the river with no life jackets, shoes or shirts. I mean kids like 5-10 years old. They choose to do it at 6pm. More than once they've been tossed over when they hit a rock and loose the tube. It about 5 miles down before you pull out. Kids are cold and wet, crying and it's about a mile's walk back to the RV park..........with no shoes!!!!!!!
We haul them up but it still amazes me how stupid people can be especially when these little kids are so trusting of their parents who have no common sense.
I feel for the kids.

 

[Amy@Team RDP]

Oh my gosh! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! That is amazing you not only saved this guy but had that gut feeling that something was wrong. Kudos to you for saving the day! WOW!

In Havasu, they have Kinderswim at all grade schools. Every kindergartener is taught to swim by lifeguards at our Aquatic Center. They bus the kids over every afternoon for a week. These lessons are provided and paid for by the LHC Rotary Club and LH Community Services Department.

 

[SoCalDave]

There’s some really informative vids about “what drowning looks/sounds like”. Usually it’s like you experienced - pretty subdued, nothing at all like a frantic whaling around that most would associate drowning with. I’ll try and post a link - good to share with your water bound crew.

Drowning = The silent killer

 

[stephenkatsea]

Drowning = The silent killer

So true. Most think it’s the classic arms flaying around and lots of splashing. First big gulp and their head’s under water. The rest is silent.

 

[rivermobster]

For real. I cannot understand how someone couldn't swim... You just tread water or paddle... You dont have to do an olympic type swim lol.

What do people do when they dont know how to swim? Do they just stay completely still and sink? I cant wrap my mind around this...

That's exactly what happens, to me.

Ask any swimming instructor. There are body types that do not float! I go straight to the bottom in the water.

Do I know how to swim? I've had lessons, yes. Do I know how to tread water? I've had lessons, yeah.

Can I do either of those things proficiently? Fuck no. It's Extremely difficult for me. I can't do either for any length of time. I'd die if I tried to swim across Parker.

I never jump in my river without a California diaper or a dock line in my hand.

A man has to know his limits!

 

[Ragged Edge]

For real. I cannot understand how someone couldn't swim... You just tread water or paddle... You dont have to do an olympic type swim lol.

What do people do when they dont know how to swim? Do they just stay completely still and sink? I cant wrap my mind around this...

When the panic sets in all rational thought departs. Things that appear simple, become impossible.

 

[Her454]

He was lucky to have you both there!

Yes, he was very lucky. It's not all that uncommon though. I have a friend that raced at CFW and boated all the time in Nor Cal and couldn't swim at all. And I've seen several people here in Florida get caught up in the rip currents that apparently couldn't swim either. It's crazy

 

[Wicky]

I just read a guy in a kayak tipped right in my backyard in the Boise river two days ago. No jacket. Now, it is a recovery and not a rescue. smh.

 

[crzy2bealive]

I can swim, but I can’t float. I go on my back and my legs start going down……

 

[fat rat]

Yes, he was very lucky. It's not all that uncommon though. I have a friend that raced at CFW and boated all the time in Nor Cal and couldn't swim at all. And I've seen several people here in Florida get caught up in the rip currents that apparently couldn't swim either. It's crazy

My good friend back East had throat cancer and now he has the hole. He is an avid boater, 19’ Cheyenne runs high 80’s. They told him if you ever go over you are done. Dudes building a sick 427 SB on no2 .

 

[Dalton]

it wasn’t till I joined the army I met people that couldn’t swim

 

[Yldboyz]

 

[jetboatperformance]

In basic they used to teach you how to pull off your pants tie knots in the legs throw them over your head to trap air as an emergency life preserver ..... yeah right that works

edit just found this

 

[YeahYeah01]

When I was around 19 or 20 in my little bayliner I was pulling into the launch ramp doc at the end of the day. Coming in normal my buddy is in the front getting ready to jump off but was sitting down still so I can see. Well there was on older guy at the doc that thought he would help and put his foot out to stop the boat, at the same time I put in reverse to stop my self. Well he missed the front of the boat and went in the drink. My buddy jumped out and the guy is flailing around arms up and obviously cant swim. My buddy is a big ass dude, he reached down and grabbed the guys arms and picked his right out of the water and set him on the dock like an infant and patted him on the back. It was a scary moment but I laugh about it when I think of it, seeing a large grown man being tossed onto the doc like a rag doll and my buddy just looking him like WTF were you thinking.

 

[stephenkatsea]

In basic they used to teach you how to pull off your pants tie knots in the legs throw them over your head to trap air as an emergency life preserver ..... yeah right that works

edit just found this

Part of keeping our USCG documents current was water safety and survival. We were required to demonstrate our ability to perform this with a pair of pants. It’s not great, but it does work. Fortunately, I’ve always had the ability to easily float. We were also required to quickly don a survival suit (Gumby Suit) in a specified amount of time. Then jump into the training pool and float around. That’s when I realized I had the ability to float on my back or my stomach. The CG officer conducting the drill said that was rare, but she had seen it before. I always knew doing any of this in an open ocean environment would have been totally different than that benign training pool.

 

[monkeyswrench]

For those that think they are proficient swimmers, think about a few other factors. River folk on the Colorado are usually wearing flip-flops and shorts, and tend to whine when the water Temps are in the low 70s. Good chance this guy was wearing boots and jeans, maybe a jacket, and all that gets heavy and constricting of movement...and the water is in the high 30s. Just that shock alone will tense your muscle mass. Tense muscles are more dense, and also cramp quickly.

At my old house we had a party for a family member. It was January. An adult backed into my at the time 5yo that couldn't swim, knocking him into the pool. Bunch of people yelling...and my ass diving in. Steel toe boots and blue jeans hinder you. I tossed him out to my wife, then slogged to the steps. Phone, wallet, everything. It's a real eye opener when you know what you're capable of.

 

[Your ad here]

I'm always shocked at how many people don't know how to swim. Especially adults and most of them I know do boating stuff. I loved to swim and just float. When I was younger, like 8 years old, I've been swimming in the ocean 40 miles from shore with nothing in sight but water and dads boat. Never felt uncomfortable once and after getting out I rinsed off and went back to driving the Sport Fisher.

 

[Deckin Around]

For those that think they are proficient swimmers, think about a few other factors. River folk on the Colorado are usually wearing flip-flops and shorts, and tend to whine when the water Temps are in the low 70s. Good chance this guy was wearing boots and jeans, maybe a jacket, and all that gets heavy and constricting of movement...and the water is in the high 30s. Just that shock alone will tense your muscle mass. Tense muscles are more dense, and also cramp quickly.

At my old house we had a party for a family member. It was January. An adult backed into my at the time 5yo that couldn't swim, knocking him into the pool. Bunch of people yelling...and my ass diving in. Steel toe boots and blue jeans hinder you. I tossed him out to my wife, then slogged to the steps. Phone, wallet, everything. It's a real eye opener when you know what you're capable of.

Agreed.
Being able to swim and swimming in clothes do not go hand in hand.

 

[whiteworks]

Cold water takes a toll on you pretty quick. I surf quite a bit in cold water up north during the winter, 50*-55* is about standard. If I’m fat and have a 3/4 with gloves, hood, booties I can stay out for about 2 hours. If m not fat it drops down to about 90 minutes and I start feeling it. Two years ago I was all pumped to paddle out in the winter and forgot to pull my hood up, about 30 minutes in I was losing my strength, something was off so I came in. That’s when I realized I forgot to pull my hood up and had lost my body heat quick.

I don’t think a person would have too long in 50* water without gear on, good swimmer might be able to do okay if they kept moving, bad swimmer matter of minutes is my guess.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I don’t think a person would have too long in 50* water without gear on, good swimmer might be able to do okay if they kept moving, bad swimmer matter of minutes is my guess.

In high school, one of our "fun" workouts during spring break was our annual beach trip. Meet at Huntington, guard tower 18 or 20...been a few years. Our workout for the day, to the pier and back...then screw around the rest of the day. First year, thinking I'm a badass, it's only maybe a half mile there.

Bit of a learning curve there. Temps weren't bad really, but it sure wasn't the same. A few of us water polo dorks also found ourselves treading water at times. Through the years, a few of us found ourselves possibly being more responsible than the coach, and kind of sheparding others. Those swims are what really made me respect Ironman competitors and others that did rough water training.

 

[endobear]

About 3 years ago we rolled up to Lone Rock beach to camp. March. We see an empty area and head towards it. I jump out of the truck and realize there is a 15' sand cliff dropping to the water. Hence why no one was camped there. As I'm telling the wife we need to find a better spot one of my kids throws the truck door open and our 2 rotties head for the cliff. As soon as the get to cliff edge and start climbing down they both fall in. They were panicked, kids were panicking, wife's freaking. I'm trying to coax the dogs down the bank to were they could climb out but they kept trying to climb up were they fell in. I'm thinking we are about to watch my dogs drown.

I find what I think is a decent spot to get down to them and try to pull them up. Get about half way down and the cliffs breaks away and I go in. Jeans, boots wallet. I get ahold of the dogs and get them to a sopt I can help them get out on to a little ledge. MNage to use all my strength to get them up dislocating a couple fingers in the process.
Now I'm freezing and gassed out. There was an undercut at the water line so climbing out wasn't working. Now I'm thinking my wife and kids are going to watch me drown now. I calmed down and made my way down the cliff to a spot I could get out.
Im a decent swimmer but between the cold, being gassed out and trying to tread sater fully clothed, im pretty sure i was minutes fron drowning.
Scared to piss out of me.

 

[oldboatsrule]

What most don't realize is when drowning your body goes into self preservation mode. Your throat involuntarily closes in attempt to keep the water out. Hindering your ability to yell for help. Hence the "silent killer".

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

or know someone who can't?
I yanked a guy out of the water the other day that fell off the dock, in between the stern of the pontoon and the dock, at the ramp. Nobody around, except me and the sheriff, who I had been visiting with for 20 minutes. Guy was standing on the dock and then he wasn't. I didn't see him fall in, but my spidey senses registered something was missing. Then, I see a hat on top of the water. Dude was trying to hold on to the stern of the boat, but was losing. I sprinted over there and son of a bitch, he was struggling, not making a peep. Battling n the cold, Snake river, water. He was too big for even the sheriff and I to pull out of the water. We needed a 3rd to get him out. Ended well for him though. No trip to the morgue, luckily. This is the 3rd instance I have been a part of, all the same scenario. Someone getting into their boat and slip off in between the dock and boat.
Wtf...going out on the water and not knowing how to swim deserves a Darwin award, if not wearing a life jacket.

Only thing close I got is one of my 190lb Danes falling into our pool like the dumbass he was.. dove in after him and got beat ta shit by those paws .... sinking like a rock. Give me your dude every time ha.... look at you saving lives