Drowning 2

[wheelnut]

It happens every year as soon as the sun comes out. It’s exacerbated this year by loads of people who are normally sat on benidorm beach are dipping their toes into British water and discovering it’s not quite the same. Throw alcohol into the mix as well.....

This case does seem a little different and does seem a bit strange if i’m honest.

I was fortunate. I was brought up a couple of hundred yards from the North Sea and spent every day of the summer holidays in the sea, jumping off the pier and pissing about, with more than a few close calls. A lot of kids don’t see the sea or open bodies of water and never learn to treat them with a bit of caution until it’s too late.

[KungFooBob]

It's in poor taste, but fucking hell what a miserable looking woman.

[Noggin]

It's in poor taste, but fucking hell what a miserable looking woman.

Jeez man!!! She was married to that guy and he described her as - "very caring and very nice" - I'd look sodding miserable too!!!

[Mussels]

I'm not sure he let any of them get in the water. His call for warning signs seems stupid, was it not bloody obvious there would be deep water at the end of a pier?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The sensible and safe thing to do in this situation is get help, but if your child/sibling was in trouble could you stop yourself or anyone else jumping in to help?
The best answer would have been prevention if you want to be wise after the event and critical of someone's actions.

[Mr Moofo]

I'm not sure he let any of them get in the water. His call for warning signs seems stupid, was it not bloody obvious there would be deep water at the end of a pier?

The public are remarkably impetuous at times. A sign would have made no difference. Accepting that accidents happen - but keeping you kids out of dangerous situations should be a parent’s primarily function.
Water doesn’t have to be deep for people to drown.
I am guessing any inquest with bring out far more information - as most of that doesn’t really “scan”

[Mr. Dazzle]

Few things are given as much inappropriate contempt as water. Anyone who's spent any time at all in/around boats, the sea etc. knows that it has the capacity to be fucking dangerous even when all seems well and things can change in an instant. Sadly if you've had that experience you'll often get caught out.

[Yambo]

Wouldn't it be sensible, if you are going to build a jetty out into deep water, to have some posts erected on the jetty and hang some lifebuoys/rings on them? We have one hanging by our site swimming pool and while we hope it'll never be needed we hope it'll be used if it is needed.

Of course, it's the UK we're talking about so I doubt any safety equipment would be there very long.

So to be realistic, why bother getting wound up about people dying in these circumstances when nobody gives a shit about whether they could have been saved with basic equipment?

[Mr. Dazzle]

TBF it did cross my mind that there should/would have been life bouys about. Even the ~6ft deep (at most) brook/stream near my house has them.

[Mr Moofo]

Wouldn't it be sensible, if you are going to build a jetty out into deep water, to have some posts erected on the jetty and hang some lifebuoys/rings on them? We have one hanging by our site swimming pool and while we hope it'll never be needed we hope it'll be used if it is needed.

Of course, it's the UK we're talking about so I doubt any safety equipment would be there very long.

So to be realistic, why bother getting wound up about people dying in these circumstances when nobody gives a shit about whether they could have been saved with basic equipment?

Shouldn’t they have taught their kids to swim - or just kept away from water?

[slowsider]

It's not only non-swimmers that drown

[Mr Moofo]

It's not only non-swimmers that drown

I am well aware of that - but learning to swim is a good technique to reducing you chances. It is unlikely it would have helped any of the passengers on the Titanic TBH.
As is not going near the water if you you don't have rudimentary skills ...

That said , getting commercial fisherman to west lifejackets is major struggle. Education has been tried - but if they fall in wearing their normal fishing gear ( i.e welly boots) then their survival time is very short. So it is not just landlubbers that are affected

[Yambo]

Shouldn’t they have taught their kids to swim - or just kept away from water?

Maybe they should have but if you want to play the blame game then it doesn't stop with the parents.

What are you going to die from and what precautions are you currently taking to prevent it?

[Mr. Dazzle]

I spray my tiger repellent on every morning.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I spray my tiger repellent on every morning.

I don't need to bother as most things find me naturally repellent

[KungFooBob]

I spray my tiger repellent on every morning.

Lynx Africa is lion repellent.

I don't think they make a Lynx Asia.

[JackyJoll]

Pass me the cougar attractant!

[gremlin]

It's not only non-swimmers that drown

But nobody gets attacked by a shark in the middle of the desert.

So that proves...something.

[slowsider]

It's not only non-swimmers that drown

But nobody gets attacked by a shark in the middle of the desert.

Pffft

[Mr. Dazzle]

If you have no ability to swim and the water is deeper than you are tall you're in trouble, no matter where that water actually is...

I think it genuinely doesn't enter into people's heads that the water in a quiet and sunny tourist spot will drown you just as effectively as the southern ocean in winter.