Death today at Seagrove Beach

[scooterbug44]

I intentionally left the beach saturday because I didn't want to drown/get in trouble saving the nearby idiots. Obviously I wouldn't be able to just stand idly by while they drowned, so I simply removed myself from the situation for MY safety.

 

[Beach Runner]

My previous post was incorrect. There was more than one older gentleman in that group. The one seen yesterday was obviously not the decreased. Unfortunately one of them was the one who died at Seagrove Beach on Monday. It was so sad hearing the children weeping and seeing the grief on the family's faces.

I apologize for the misinformation.

 

[NoHall]

Unless the rescuer drowns saving the first victim, as what usually happens. That's when bystanders become victims because of selfless thinking people.

My point is that if you are speeding, you can lose control and hit someone else. You run the risk of having an accident that injures or kills someone who had no part in your decision to drive too fast. If you choose to swim in dangerous water, you aren't going to run off the road and kill someone who was just passing by on the way to Sunday School.

In the water, the rescuer endangers himself, albeit willingly and unselfishly, when he enters the water to rescue someone. Maybe he didn't get up that morning with plans to pull someone out of the water, but at some point he made a conscious decision to put himself in harm's way.

 

[seagrovegirl]

My point is that if you are speeding, you can lose control and hit someone else. You run the risk of having an accident that injures or kills someone who had no part in your decision to drive too fast. If you choose to swim in dangerous water, you aren't going to run off the road and kill someone who was just passing by on the way to Sunday School.

In the water, the rescuer endangers himself, albeit willingly and unselfishly, when he enters the water to rescue someone. Maybe he didn't get up that morning with plans to pull someone out of the water, but at some point he made a conscious decision to put himself in harm's way.

Most people I know will not stand by and watch someone drown, they wouldn't be able to live with themselves.....so yes....the person in the water during a double red flag is endangering the public, which is well documented in Walton Co. by the amount of rescuers/civilians who drown trying to help.

 

[NoHall]

Most people I know will not stand by and watch someone drown, they wouldn't be able to live with themselves.....so yes....the person in the water during a double red flag is endangering the public, which is well documented in Walton Co. by the amount of rescuers/civilians who drown trying to help.

I understand that (and agree--I wouldn't be able to stop myself, either) but it is still a conscious decision. It's not like someone standing on the beach with a scatter-gun, though.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Are any of us REALLY sure we would go in (excluding lifeguards and LEO's who may be reading this)? What about if it was one of those situations where it was a drunk, combative person that had already been told by the cops to stay out of the water more than once? I am not saying I wouldn't, but there are definitely times that I would not rush headlong into that type of situation. It reminds me of the old saying by my mom, would you jump off the bridge if Billy did?

 

[scooterbug44]

Quite sure I couldn't just stand there and let someone die.

It's easy to SAY you would or that you'd be logical about it, but in reality you just act, you don't mull it over - that's why most training focuses on repetition - so that your automatic action is the correct one.

 

[NoHall]

I know I couldn't either, but I'm also quite sure that it doesn't constitute public endangerment. That's where the rescuer has to have the personal responsibility to say that he went in because of his own conscience, not because the swimmer was endangering him.

There's a cool story about a guy who helped another swimmer in a shark attack. I was particularly struck by this part, which seems pertinent here:

Joe Jansen had paddled only 15 feet toward shore in his panic when he decided he couldn't live with himself if he didn't go back. He entered the pool of bloody water, half expecting to be attacked. "Quick! Get on your board!" he shouted to Endris. "C'mon, pal -- it's behind you. Let's go!"

 

[BeachSiO2]

I understand your point completely, and don't disagree. It's just there has been a fair amount of venom (and discussion of darwinism) that has come out on the thread about what should or should not be done to people who go in the water. So I thought I would throw out the ethical dilemma question.

 

[beachmouse]

Are any of us REALLY sure we would go in (excluding lifeguards and LEO's who may be reading this)?

I would. But then I'm a strong open water swimmer, and was a pool lifeguard to help pay for college back when. Rule #1- take something with you that floats that you can also extend to the rescuee- rescue can, ring, skimboard, floaty raft... The victim comes into contact with the floaty and you're not putting yourself into a position where they can panic and drag you under.