The new captain jumped from the deck, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim and headed straight for a couple who were swimming between their anchored sportfish and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other, and she had screamed, but now they were just standing neck-deep on a sandbar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard toward him. “Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not 10 feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears and screamed, “Daddy!” -Source
-The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale and call out for help.
-Drowning people cannot wave for help.
-Head low in the water, mouth at water level
-Head tilted back with mouth open
-Appears to be climbing an invisible ladder
Yep. It is a silent killer. And even if the drowning person can call out, often the sounds of the surf or the full pool cover any noise.
ReplyDeleteStill people in water scare lifeguards.
Exactly right. The other problem is spotting them in any kind of wave action, as they are so low in the water.
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