Another Beaver Lake Drowning

[jeb]

I was passed on Old Prarire Creek road by a Sheriff today. I was on the way home from running errands, about 3pm. Obvious he was in a hurry. Got down to the "beach" area, where the road used to go into the lake, and saw another Sheriff car on the beach and some yellow tape. Quite a crowd too, which is not unusual on a hot summer day. Then I heard on the news that a guy had drowned there. 3rd one this year on Beaver, according to Quillback.

http://5newsonline.c...-beaver-lake-2/

Wife just drove by the area and said it looks completely normal down there now. So I guess it's just part of the game folks play with the lake.

[Stump bumper]

Just such a shame that people swim in areas that are so unsupervised and don't think about rescue equipment. I was raised going to scout camps and have a long military background so buddy systems and flotation devices just make common sense. As fishermen we always carry personal flotation and throwable devices along with ropes and we don't plan to get into the water. Just makes me wonder what is going through the heads of people who go into the water with no more than shorts and flip flops and no one backing them up.

I will get in the lake when it is hot from my boat and my wife likes to swim from the boat and she thinks I am "weird" that I will not leave the boat without her getting back in and I always take a flotation device with me(I don't trust her that much), until something like this happens to remind her how fun can turn into tragedy in seconds.

I was not there but wonder who they had appointed to watch out and what was their plan for rescue when something went wrong, I am betting there wasn't a life jacket or flotation device anywhere. Sorry to say it but due to lack of training and nature of people and water 3 is just a beginning, lots of hot weather to come.

If you know people going to the lake PLEASE have a conversation about safety and loan them a life jacket. I pick up every life jacket I can find at goodwill and salvation army stores and give them away every year. Spending $2 on a kids life jacket and giving it to a stranger on the lake just makes me feel like I am doing my part.

BE CAREFUL PLAY SAFE

[Quillback]

Paper had a little more info this morning, the victim, a 42 yo male had a history of seizures, so it's possible he had one while swimming. They're going to do an autopsy. Plenty of people in the area, but after he went under, no one could find him until the divers got there.

[jeb]

I spent 5 of my 6 junior and senior years on the swim team and was a Red Cross certified lifeguard. Being in the water with no safety net, so to speak, does not bother me in the least. But I'm sure there are far too many folks without good swimming skills that take far too many risks in the water. Unfortunately, life can be a cruel teacher.

[Stump bumper]

It's also a bad place to have your first heart attack, alone. Teenagers don't have to worry about those much . You never get too old for basic safety so IF the day comes your body fails your life will depend on how well you chose your friends.

When was the last time you tested those swimming skills? I used to ride a bike for days without touching the handle bars, tried that last week and almost went down.

[jeb]

Last weekend. And will swim again tomorrow. Probably do some scuba diving in the morning, too. Zero history of heart issues or seizures in my family, either.

I'm not arguing about being careful out there. But I don't think you can make blanket statements, is all. Like my favorite prophet says "A man's got to know his limitations" (credit to Clint Eastwood, of course).

[Stump bumper]

I really hope you have a buddy while diving...

[jeb]

This has gotten a little off track. I guess I'll drop out of this thread by saying my condolences are with the recent drowning victims family.

[Ron Burgundy]

Jeb did u see many walleye while u were scuba diving?

[jeb]

Did not get to go as the wife was not feeling well. I've seen a few diving in the past, though, up by the dam. See more sunfish than anything. Next would be black bass.