This was posted at another site but think it’s worth a read - makes you think…
"I’m currently in Oregon, the reason I’m here is because my brother had a boating accident Sunday.
At 1200 on a sunny, warm, flat day on the Columbia River, my brother and our good friend were returning from a sturgeon fishing trip on a stretch of river they had traveled no less than 500 times in the past 20 years. This part of the Columbia is very similiar to Winyah Bay, but on a large scale…channels, sloughs, islands, bays etc.
running a tiller handled skiff, they hit a submerged log that ejected them both from the boat. water was 64 degrees. My brother was wearing rain pants over jeans, boots, and a hooded sweat shirt. They wore no LIFEJACKETS and the kill switch wasnt attached…
Now, a little background…My brother owns a house on the river with his own dock, he has earned his living the past 20 years either: commercial fishing the river, commercial trapping the river or guiding on the river, to say he has more time on the water than most is an understatement.
Our friend survived, plucked out at the last possible second by someone who thought it was odd that a boat was turning circles and came to investigate.
My brother still lies on the bottom of the mighty Columbia. He knew the river would eventually get him, but not in June, on a sunny day, at high noon. He thought about duck season, in January when he did wear a lifejacket and hypothermia would be the cause. We talked about it often, those who know me, understands why.
I’m not telling you this for sympathy, i really dont want to hear “sorry for your loss”…
What i’d like everyone to do is read this and understand a few things.
Most of us can swim, but did you learn how to swim with clothes on and shoes?
Does anyone practice swimming by first getting thrown out of a boat at 30mph sideways? My buddy who survived considered himself an outstanding swimmer…he struggled not to swim, but just to stay afloat.
Remember, these were guys who didnt splash their b
Hoppy - it’s not my family, but just found it on another site and thought it was worth sharing. I’m sure the family would appreciate everyone’s thought and prayers and hope that this story will save a life.
That’s actually on the Georgetown forum here: http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=83644
Sprig, a member of CF.com is the one who posted it. This needs to be kept at the top so that everyone can read it…especially before going into one of the busiest boating holidays of the year.
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
didn’t know it was on here… I pulled it from SCDucks but definitely wanted to make sure that everybody gets a chance to see it. Really makes you think about how quickly life can change
Gentlemen: In the event you are thrown into the water, we teach water survival training here at the FLETC. Untuck you shirt and button the top button tight around your neck. Hold the front of your shirt out while floating on your back. As the material of the shirt gets wet, it will hold air better. Using your strong hand, scoop water and air up under the front of the shirt. Then hold your shirt bottom to your stomach. The air pocket will last for a while. Just repeat as needed. You can stay afloat for a long time like that. But it does not beat a life jacket and kill switch. But if you happen to get thrown overboard without one, try the above method. It has saved many lives.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
God has blessed me with a house on the water, and I am fortunate enough to take a lot of last minute fishing trips, often saying, man weather is good, I am going and leave within the next 10-minutes; therefore, I fish by myself alot. I started using the kill switch every time when running a couple years back. This past week I saw were a local marine supplier had the auto-inflation suspenders on sale for $100. My family has been on me for years to get these, and with a newborn at the house figured I had better jump on the sale. I plan to wear these every time I run from spot to spot. If you fall out and hit your head, good swimming ability is not going to help!