Yesterday on our 2:30 run, a young adult(?) male swam(?) through Hollywood.
I was sitting at the far back eddy at the rock below Washing Machine, when I heard someone call out that there was a swimmer. Looked up river and saw a non-boater struggling to get out just above Hollywood. About the same time, I saw a head pop up almost even with me in the flow. I just figured, another kid doing dumb stuff. He didn't seem to be doing a whole lot, but floated the left line. I watched the first swimmer I saw get out above Hollywood and some boaters in our group making moves in Hollywood. Moving down river, I saw Fat Doug with the second swimmer holding onto his boat with Shaggy there for support. They had gotten him to a rock by the time I got there. When i caught up with them it was odvious that the swimmer was totally exausted and disoriented (drunk?). I paddled up to a River City Raft, guided by Chris, and asked if they could get him off the river. Which he took care of. Thanks Chris! I later found out that Fat Doug had seen the swimmer come through and had noticed that he had a glazed look on his face and wasn't making any effort at self rescue. He had become foot entrapped/pinned below 747 Rock and was underwater and motionless for about 10 seconds. Fat doug had come by and grabbed at him and he became free of whatever he was stuck on (Doug said he didn't think that what he did freed the swimmer, but he did come free, you do the math)! Then Doug towed the swimmer to a rock where the raft extracted him. A happy ending to what would have surely ended up badly.
Last edited by Mango on Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming....WOW What a ride! . . . . . Trying to live up to this, Priceless. As long as you have good insurance!
Envelope – Free stationary taken from the Marriott while on a business trip.
Snowflake address label – sent to me free and had to be used up.
Stained glass stamp – It was more then three feet away from me when I decided to get them so you know I didn’t see them clearly
Butterfly and Sunflower stickers on the back – Also free and required because the glue on the envelope was so old it no longer stuck.
--KessmanN
Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
Correction, River City Rafting, not Riverside Outfitters.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming....WOW What a ride! . . . . . Trying to live up to this, Priceless. As long as you have good insurance!
Thanks for the kudos everyone. And thanks to Chris and the River City raft company for getting the guy off the river.
This is by far the most frightening thing I've seen on the river. The guy was entrapped and submerged long enough for me to catch the eddy below the rock, attain into the flow (as best I could) and attempt to grab/free him twice. Once I got him onto my boat and his head above water, he started breathing (thankfully), but he was definitely disoriented and exhausted. I honestly couldn't tell if the disorientation was due to alcohol or lack of oxygen. I'm just glad I was in a position to help.
I should give some recognition to Scooter for an article he posted on Face Book regarding active drowning and how it does not resemble movie depictions. I read that article last week and am still amazed at how accurately the descriptions in it were. If he didn't already post it somewhere on this site, he should.
"You push a damn environmentalist, mountain hippie, devil worshipping pacifiest too far and you've got trouble!" - Jim Durham
Good job guys!!
And good job to Mango! On the first run we had need for a T rescue, several of is headed that way, but Mango got there SO FAST!! It was Awesome speed!
fatdoug wrote:
I should give some recognition to Scooter for an article he posted on Face Book regarding active drowning and how it does not resemble movie depictions. I read that article last week and am still amazed at how accurately the descriptions in it were. If he didn't already post it somewhere on this site, he should.
Originally posted by Brandon on this message board. But the more venues the better. Here it is again for those of you who might have missed it: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/
fatdoug wrote:
I should give some recognition to Scooter for an article he posted on Face Book regarding active drowning and how it does not resemble movie depictions. I read that article last week and am still amazed at how accurately the descriptions in it were. If he didn't already post it somewhere on this site, he should.
Originally posted by Brandon on this message board. But the more venues the better. Here it is again for those of you who might have missed it: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/
Thanks Scooter, but ultimately it was your FB post that Doug read. This was just one of those things that was meant to be... My brother mentioned the story while paddling the LJ Sat before last. I did some searching Monday around lunch but didn't find a link. That afternoon, someone posted a link to it on BoaterTalk. After reading it, I felt compelled to spread the word, so I posted a link here on Coastal's that you read and then you posted the link on FaceBook that Doug read. Regardless of chronology, I'm glad Doug took the time to review the article. Moreover, I'm glad he was in the right place, with the right skills, aware of his surroundings and able to help the person in distress. Awesome Job!!!
Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
Way to be there Fatty!!!!