Saw someone drowning today and I couldn't help

[RinkyDink]

I was taught an appropriate response if you found yourself in the position you did (should NOT find yourself in that position BTW where the victim can grab you since you become a lifesaving island and as you found out they will want to climb on top of that island and not let go)....appropriate response is to punch the person dead in the nose. Stuns them, allows you to get free and to a safer position.

.....probably would take more than roses moving forward however....

I was taught if you're in a water rescue situation and someone grabs a hold of you and is jeopardizing your safety, then the best way to get them off of you is to descend underwater. The last place a panicking swimmer wants to go is under. Afterward, the rescuer can resurface further away and try communicating.

[Big H]

Actually you go under and grab the person down by the legs, spin them so that you can come up behind them and take a cross chest carry hold where you can control them. If they fight when you spin them yank them under a touch....will kill the fight in them and you can take command.

.....but you never want to get that close.....