Saw someone drowning today and I couldn't help

[BaNZ]

Overhead + offshore today from the Irma hurricane swell. It was perfect condition. I saw a head bobbing up and down about 20 meters away from the lineup. I thought it was a seal for a minute then we saw hand up in the hair. It just looks like someone was snorkling as he was black and we thought he was wearing a wetsuit. The guy must have been there for like 10-15 minutes until someone on a longboard shouted to ask if he was okay. The guy didn't respond nor did he wave back. We were just really puzzled. Eventually a few longboarders swam out to him and the guy was just delusional. We think he was either on drugs or some kind of concussion. They took like 10 mins or more to get the guy back on shore. The shorebreak was really dangerous and strong. After they saved him, he just put on his clothes and walked off. He didn't want to give his name or medical attention. We wanted him to wait there but he just took off. I think he was either traumatized or on some kind of drugs. Few minutes later, helicopter bunch of fire trucks, ambulance all arrived but the guy just ran off and went back again later.

I was struggling to even get to the lineup with my shortboard so I couldn't help. I drank a few mouthful of water while getting pummeled by the shorebreak. It's been a long time since I was thrown over the lip. I really haven't had that experience for a long time. It was scary!

[IanCaio]

Glad everyone was fine at the end..

I was reading somewhere, about how hard it is to realize someone is drowning, because they won't usually be splashing a lot of water and screaming like in the movies.

I used to surf in a break (still surf there once in a while) where there's a rip current that can get strong, nearby the rocks. There are big signs of "Drowning risk" but many people don't really respect warnings until they are in need for help. Once I tried to help, along with a longboarder, a kid that was jumping from the rocks without a board and had cramps in the rip current. Another time there were some kids playing in the shallow on the rip current area, being constantly warned by the lifeguard, and suddenly one of them got dragged really fast. I rushed with the surfboard, while a lifeguard went in swimming too and some people jumped from the rocks to reach the kid, which thankfully just got out really scared.

None of those days the waves were big.. Probably around 2ft hawaiian, 3ft tops.

[RinkyDink]

Looks like things have been pretty good out there on the East Coast http://37.swellstory.surfline.com/. Something about hot lava entering the sea and huge waves seems to beckon to thrill-seekers to take a dip.

[oldmansurfer]

I bet there is some great surf in the gulf of Mexico. Drowning is often silent because victims either are suddenly in a drowning situation and working hard to breath or have for whatever reason not asked for help till they could no longer ask. Glad to hear everyone was ok. sometimes people don't want help

[pmcaero]

I was struggling to even get to the lineup with my shortboard so I couldn't help. I drank a few mouthful of water while getting pummeled by the shorebreak. It's been a long time since I was thrown over the lip. I really haven't had that experience for a long time. It was scary!

I feel you. I assume beach break? You probably would have put yourself in danger had you tried to get to him.

On a vaguely related and more positive note, have you thought about bodyboarding in such conditions? Flippers would give you an extra boost and you don't have a hard board to worry about. I converted my beater into a (huge) bodyboard by plugging for an arm leash, but I haven't yet taken it out finless and wearing flippers.

[Big H]

Got me thinking, especially the comment from PM....many people would put themselves in danger if they tried to effect a save and didn't have any training....to that end I would think that if surfbshops or surf associations did classes or clinics on lifesaving techniques for surfers, even one day bare bones basics, the community at large would benefit and be better off.

[oldmansurfer]

If surfers themselves took it upon themselves to get trained in in lifeguarding then it would be a lot safer. Here where I live surfers are the auxiliary lifeguards and do all the rescues when there are no lifeguards around. Some of them might be lifeguards since that is an occupation that surfers seem to like but mostly they are just in shape and familiar with the ocean.

[dtc]

Got me thinking, especially the comment from PM....many people would put themselves in danger if they tried to effect a save and didn't have any training...

like this poor guy just nearish me just yesterday

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/man-drowns-af ... yeozw.html

.to that end I would think that if surfshops or surf associations did classes or clinics on lifesaving techniques for surfers, even one day bare bones basics, the community at large would benefit and be better off.

There are various lessons being offered in Australia eg https://www.surfingaustralia.com/states ... rticipants

which are through surf life saving clubs and surf schools - and are free (well, free for the attendees - obviously there is sponsorship/govt funding). I havent done one however...but I have read some stuff that might assist. the surfing rescue australia brochure is a pretty good start (maybe we should link it to the forum's learn to surf stuff?)

http://www.surfersrescue247.com/wp-cont ... ure-V3.pdf

[Big H]

Sad story but no uncommon; should serve as a warning to unprepared would be rescuers to either stay on the beach or seek training now so that when confronted they will be able to respond effectively.

Spending as much time as surfers do in the water as well as having a legitimate piece of lifesaving equipment (if trained and it is used properly-surfboard) it makes sense that an individual would/should feel learning/having lifesaving training is part and parcel to being a surfer. Situation like the attached story, if a surfer were on the scene with their board, the expectation would be that you go to the aid of the children. If you didn't know what you were doing it could be fatal, either for you, the children or both. Somehow the surfer on the scene in the story only managed one of two victims but managed to avoid being a victim themselves which is always the first priority. Don't know the sequence of events but is possible that with training they could have saved both victims.

[BaNZ]

I feel you. I assume beach break? You probably would have put yourself in danger had you tried to get to him.

Yes, and a terrible kind of beach break. The guy who got in trouble wasn't a surfer. I assume he stepped into the water and basically got sucked out by the white wash/current. When the lip smashes onto the beach, it is so powerful that it generates overhead sand+ white wash. Not as scary as the Wedge in Newport but still pretty painful.

I don't know about bodyboarding, it really scared me when I got sucked up to the lip and thrown over. It's a good place to bodyboard as the wave is fast and sometimes barrel.

I always hear how people get themselves into trouble when rescuing. Especially if the victim does not know how to swim. I had the first hand experience last week when I took my fiancee to snorkeling. She had a life jacket but she was so scared that she kept pushing me under. I choked a few times and got really angry. When I try to resurface for air she pushes me under. That was on a super calm sea, I can't imagine would would happen if I have to save someone who is dragging me down.

[BaNZ]

So this was the video I took before I got in the water. The day that some guy got in trouble, he was floating around 10 meters away from those rocks. What was scary was that he didn't look like he needed help. He was just bobbing in and out of the water.

[BaNZ]

I'm also going to ask a really dumb question. I took my 6'3 board for the first time in 3 years. Reason why is I got there late and they had no boards to rent. If I rent a foamie, I know it will break in half. Winter is coming and the swell will get bigger. I need to start trying to learn how to catch waves on a small board but I need it to be the perfect condition to learn. What is the smallest and safest wave in which I would still be able to learn to popup and catch wave. My board dimension 6’3” x 20 1/2” x 2 1/2” 36L. I'm 172cm and 64kg. I tried popping up in white wash but that didn't work. Also I noticed the other shortboarders are sitting much lower in the water. I was sticking out like a duck. I definitely don't want to bring the board out again when it is overhead. It was stupid but I had no choice. I did catch 1 wave in that hour so it was better than nothing.

[oldmansurfer]

So this was the video I took before I got in the water. The day that some guy got in trouble, he was floating around 10 meters away from those rocks. What was scary was that he didn't look like he needed help. He was just bobbing in and out of the water.

OMG look at those waves....no one is riding the good ones and everyone is just going straight in. Usually someone who is drowning bobs up and down trying to breath. They go under and come up take a breath and back under again. This takes all their effort and they can't scream for help or wave since every muscle is involved in this dysfunctional behavior. But this guy probably had mental problems and wasn't in an immediately life threatening situation

[Big H]

I always hear how people get themselves into trouble when rescuing. Especially if the victim does not know how to swim. I had the first hand experience last week when I took my fiancee to snorkeling. She had a life jacket but she was so scared that she kept pushing me under. I choked a few times and got really angry. When I try to resurface for air she pushes me under. That was on a super calm sea, I can't imagine would would happen if I have to save someone who is dragging me down.

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....

[waikikikichan]

I need to start trying to learn how to catch waves on a small board but I need it to be the perfect condition to learn.

And what would equate to "perfect condition" ? And should you be on a shortboard "learning" in heavy conditions ?

What is the smallest and safest wave in which I would still be able to learn to popup and catch wave.

Smallest wave ? It's depends mainly on YOUR paddling technique. Safest wave ? You still can get cut by the fin on a 1/2 foot wave. If the wave is "safe" then there's no power, juice, steepness enough to get your shortboard up to planning speed.

It was stupid but I had no choice.

That's usually said after you regain consciousness in the ambulance.

[jaffa1949]

Just comments on the beach and the surfers.
The wasn't big but enough to generate rips and a longshoremen current, the rip would be much stronger near the rocks as they would force the longshore near the beach current to run out, natural rip point,mas well as one at the other end visible in the video, Inwould be prepared to bet the drowned would have chosen to swim by the rocks because it was calmer there....... typical rip sign, been a poor swimmer not knowing the beach, classic casual beach swimmer event. Often see the deeper holes in between sand banks as a safe place!

Now about the surf the banks weren't quite closing out but none of the surfers visible in the video were making much of the waves, there was enough for good rides but no one seemed capable of much beyond going straight. Very much a learners' scene ( nice conditions) not harsh or hard hitting, if you found it difficult to get out under conditions like that,
Stay on a longer board, you are not generating enough paddle power, work on your duck diving or if longer board hinders that, turtle rolls.
Please stop hindering your progress by trying to go short yet, skill up particularly in paddling and reading the book of the beach on the day!

[Big H]

Popping up is popping up for me....if you can on a longboard, get the mechanics down and the feels and do it well (quickly and smoothly) then it will translate to the shorter board so long as you are on waves big enough to get the board to plane (for me it would be near the minimum I would ride a shortboard in what you showed in the video).

A foamie would have been great in those waves IMO.

[BaNZ]

It was only hard for me to get out because I couldn't paddle very fast with a SB. In fact, it was really easy that day due to the long intervals. I just had to walk till about waist level and wait for the calm period to paddle out. The paddle was less like 15 meter but I was paddling so slow compared to other SB.

I don't think I can surf a LB when the conditions are like that, I'm fairly certain that I'm going to pick one that closes out and break the board. I think a lot of it comes down to my head. It's always going to be in the back of my mind which make me hesitate on the take off. Usually at this spot, I start renting out a 7'6 when the condition is close to waist/shoulder. Only 9'0 when it is 1-2 ft.

Back home in UK, I always surf with the same guys. I surf far much better than them on long and funboards. They can go only go straight but they are able to catch waves on shortboard much better than me. When I go out with them in smaller boards, I can't even popup. I'm puzzled in why I can't surf better than them on a SB when I know I have better paddling and techniques than them on a bigger board.

[pmcaero]

So this was the video I took before I got in the water.

we get many dumpy days like that with strong offshores, though I wouldn't go in a shorebreak that size. But a little smaller, should be manageable on a sponge.when you don't need to worry too much about your board, wipeouts can be fun. I was inside a barrel for 1/2 of a second when I went in the shorebreak with my foam beater , then got tumbled. I'll go again but with swim fins next time there are strong offshores and low to mid tide.
Hitting foam versus fiberglass makes a world of difference, I took a Wavestorm to the face the other day and barely felt it.

[oldmansurfer]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/man-drowns-af ... yeozw.html

In this drowning situation a surfer saved the child that the drowning victim was trying to save. It is so sad how many people who are totally unprepared to save anyone end up drowning while the person they were trying to save survives