Drowning swimmer...stay on or jump in?

[Xspook]

I think the ski rider made a bad decision to jump off.



FFWD to 2:35 for the rescue:

https://youtu.be/lFtW9h0HVuc?t=155

[pro1200]

The rider should not have jumped-the ski could have easily gotten away from him and then there would be not one but two people in danger.

[skippydiver]

I took a NAUI rescue diver course taught by the chief of a fire rescue dive team and his advice for any drowning person is that if you can save them without getting in the water do that. Drowning people will climb on top of you and drown you in a panic.

[troyheb]

Here's to hoping you guys never fall in and have some kind of difficulties.

[RiverRat71]

Found 3 young cats in the middle of the Chattahoochee just below dam at Lake Eufaula in a bad way that were attempting to swim across. Never crossed my mind to jump in but I was able to maneuver my ski to let them get a grip so they could catch their breath. When I first reached them they tried to climb on an almost sunk my sh!t. We quickly came to an understanding when I released the reverse bucket & idled away. They couldn't hold on under full idle. At that point they were good with just hanging onto the side & we slowly idled to the bank. The old 08 doesn't have IBR but if you know what your doing with the bucket it works pretty well. RR

[grumpy_steven]

Lifeguard course teaches: reach-throw-row-tow-go.

Last thing you want to do is get in the water. A drowning person can easily take you down too.

[ptscon]

Dude didn't even let go of his fishing rods, probably why he was having a hard time you know ..swimming

[troyheb]

I have never gone to lifeguard school or any other crap like that. I have been to human being school and in there I learned that I will do what ever it takes to help someone who's life is in peril. That includes all you people who would let that dude drown.

[K447]

- people who would let that dude drown.

That count is zero, in this thread.

If the rider had stayed on his PWC and maneuvered it appropriately the swimmer would have been assisted and climbing out of the water much quicker. That is the lesson.

The original swimmer was in the water for quite a while after the rider jumped off his working watercraft. Most of that in-water time was unnecessary had the rider instead brought the PWC alongside the swimmer and guided them to the rear boarding area. With engine shut-down at the correct moment (for swimmer safety).

The rider could also have directly assisted the swimmer with boarding from his position on-board. As it was the rider had to wait for the swimmer to board first, which meant the uncommanded PWC and both people were adrift and being swept along by the current for a long duration.

The video clip does not show how long it took for both people to get back on board and for the rider to resume control and begin driving. It seems possible that that was not accomplished and some other boat ended up also assisting.

[troyheb]

That count is zero, in this thread.

If the rider had stayed on his PWC and maneuvered it appropriately the swimmer would have been assisted and climbing out of the water much quicker. That is the lesson.

The original swimmer was in the water for quite a while after the rider jumped off his working watercraft. Most of that in-water time was unnecessary had the rider instead brought the PWC alongside the swimmer and guided them to the rear boarding area. With engine shut-down at the correct moment (for swimmer safety).

The rider could also have directly assisted the swimmer with boarding from his position on-board. As it was the rider had to wait for the swimmer to board first, which meant the uncommanded PWC and both people were adrift and being swept along by the current for a long duration.

The video clip does not show how long it took for both people to get back on board and for the rider to resume control and begin driving. It seems possible that that was not accomplished and some other boat ended up also assisting.

Sounds like I can count in the group that would probably let the dude drown.