Drowning Today

[The Caddis]

That's a shame, sorry to hear about this.

[LASGTA88]

yeah really sad to hear this.. almost surprised there isnt more accidents due to the severe cold water.. we had a guy fall out of a boat right next to the dock cause his dad hit the dock during heavy flow.. but he was barely under water and somehow sprung right back up and out and ran up to his cabin and got warmed back up and still came back out on the boat later

LA

[RiverRunner]

This is dangerous weather to be out in a boat in, one wrong move and a tragedy like this can occur. I've always been afraid of something like that happening at the ramp, but this is the first time I've actually heard of it happening. When I was big-time tournament fishing, on very cold mornings, I always made sure I was the first one down the ramp and in the water.

A terrible tragedy, to say the least.

[taxidermist]

Pretty sad. Hard to imagine seeing your friend drown and not being able to do anything about it.

[brownieman]

Really is a shame...winter fishing can be very dangerous for numerous reasons.

I have had several close calls over the years in frigid weather and being by myself miles from my rig...been very lucky. I am hesitant to go like I used to in frigid weather because I'm not as sure footed as I used to be. Once i slipped on a rootwad and dis-located my knee about 2 miles from my rig by myself...if it would have been frigid weather i don't know if I would have made it back to my rig or not...was close enouph for me and taught me a lesson.

I always try to fish with a friend if it's very cold...just one mistake can be life threatening.

At least this man left this old world doing something he apparantly loved...i can think of much worse ways to go.

Regards to his family and friends and we all need to take extra care when on the water especially in cold weather.

bm

[rsbcon]

That is truely sad. I have alot of respect for that tailwater.

[OzarkKid07]

I'm not very experienced at all at putting a boat in or taking out of a river, but in lakes, when your truck or van slips back on the ice to the water, it stops when you hit the water line because the water isn't frozen. Why would this not happen on a river? I don't understand how the whole car could slide past the water line. Anyone know the answer here?

[Trav]

Maybe the current caught the boat and pulled it in a little. If so it must have been a heavy boat.

My guess is, Cooper creek ramp is very steep. Easy to get momentum sliding on ice and the water does drop off fairly quick at the water line.

I personally thought that the ramp was built fairly safe. Deep traction grooves as well. Must have been alot of boats coming out of the water that day for there to be that much ice build up.

Of course, I havnt heard if there was any error on the drivers part either.