update on the drowned fisherman - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

slow eddie · 11-16-2007, 06:00 PM

the forementioned fisherman drowned because his waders filled up. USE A BELT. REPEAT. USE A BELT. USE A PIECE OF ROPE. USE SOMETHING. john, i do not know where to put this post.thanks, ed

tattoobob · 11-16-2007, 10:17 PM

Also have a knife on your belt, you can always cut yourself out/or them off you

Vogt · 11-16-2007, 11:38 PM

Always use the belt. I almost got into a bad situation a few weeks back on a flat shallow beach. It was Hot day so I didnt have the belt or anything. There was a rock that I didnt know of,slipped on it, I went down onto my chest, water rushed in, I was able to use the butt of my rod to get back up, but I could have been in deep Sh**, in only 2 feet of water. SCAREY FEELING . use the belt

tynan19 · 11-17-2007, 08:05 AM

How do they know that is why he drowned? It is proven that you do not sink with waders on filled with water. Was he unable to swim to shore? Or did the added weight of the water tire him out till he was exhausted? Water in waders to me is not a reason why he drowned but one of many factors that lead to his death.

Mike P · 11-17-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tynan19

How do they know that is why he drowned? It is proven that you do not sink with waders on filled with water. Was he unable to swim to shore? Or did the added weight of the water tire him out till he was exhausted? Water in waders to me is not a reason why he drowned but one of many factors that lead to his death.

I strongly suspect that he was stricken in some way--heart attack, maybe, or a stroke--and fell in. They should be doing an autopsy. They do in most cases of accidental death.

We know from other posts here that he was in his mid-50s and a smoker.

animal · 11-17-2007, 09:25 AM

I can't remember if he wore breathables,or neoprene,the breathables or old rubber waders could keep you down,couldn't they?

tynan19 · 11-17-2007, 09:47 AM

Bob, they do not pull you down. They allow you to swim albiet not well. Getting out of the water is the problem. The weight of all that water prevents you from pulling yourself up.
Mike, the ME usually gets the body the next day but could take a while in publishing the results.

luds · 11-17-2007, 09:58 AM

A wading belt will only give you a few extra moments. wear a wetsuit when possible. bob's comment about a knife is a good one too.

animal · 11-17-2007, 09:59 AM

I realize they wont pull you down,however,they aren't bouyant like neoprenes,which even full,will stay up.A person who's not a strong swimmer in the first place,could have a real hard time trying to stay upright and on top,wearing rubber or breathables.

tattoobob · 11-17-2007, 11:20 AM

The Knife would be to cut holes to let the water out and not fill
also you could get out easier

it is more of a problem if you have wading boots but you could
cut the laces.

when the water is cold you don't have much of a chance maybe 2
minutes at most

In The Surf · 11-17-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike P

I strongly suspect that he was stricken in some way--heart attack, maybe, or a stroke--and fell in. They should be doing an autopsy. They do in most cases of accidental death.

We know from other posts here that he was in his mid-50s and a smoker.

I doubt that was the case, the fisherman in the area who called for help (coast guard) heard the fallen fisherman calling for help and in distress. He was obviously struggling to save his own life. That wouldn't be the case if it were a heart attack or stroke.

luds · 11-17-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In The Surf

I doubt that was the case, the fisherman in the area who called for help (coast guard) heard the fallen fisherman calling for help and in distress. He was obviously struggling to save his own life. That wouldn't be the case if it were a heart attack or stroke.

I feel bad for that guy as well. I'd have some sleepless nights after that experience.

piemma · 11-17-2007, 08:56 PM

So I have a real stupid question. There was another guy there who heard the drowning victim calling for help. he dialed 911. Why the hell didn't he go and help the guy?

rockfisherman · 11-17-2007, 09:08 PM

Years ago, Lee Wulff was in a video where he dove off a bridge wearing waders and no belt and he swam to shore, proving that it was a myth that they would drag you down.

Channel 10 said the fisherman fell off a breakwall. He probably conked his head and got knocked out and drowned, tho I am speculating.

That said, I am still wearing my wading belt! I have fallen and gone in, and it keeps the water out. I have never fallen in without a belt, but I always wear one so I can't tell you firsthand what it's like without one. Maybe someone else will chime in who can.

spence · 11-17-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

So I have a real stupid question. There was another guy there who heard the drowning victim calling for help. he dialed 911. Why the hell didn't he go and help the guy?

Who knows...if I had a cell I'd certainly call 911 before I tried to go out, unless I knew that I could get him back quickly. It's such a crap shoot...

-spence

piemma · 11-17-2007, 09:16 PM

I would too Jeff. But how the hell can you watch someone drown. I had an opportunity to save someone 20 years ago in Florida in a place apppropriately names Dead Man's Cut. It's between Captiva and Sanibel Islands. I couldn't just watch this guy drown so I went in and got him. I was lucky and so was he. We both survived.

spence · 11-17-2007, 09:28 PM

You go with your gut in those situations...I don't think I'd hesitate for a moment if someone was about to go under. But it's so important to get real help involved early...

Last time I was at that spot was just after a big storm a few years back...there wasn't much left of Captiva!

-spence

tattoobob · 11-17-2007, 09:38 PM

I saved lives twice, they want to use you as a float and put you under
alot of times the saver ends up dead. the hair tow is one of the best way to tow a person back. if you can get the waders off there are ways to use them as floats, I was a life guard and at one time could swim 4 miles.

Mike P · 11-18-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tattoobob

I saved lives twice, they want to use you as a float and put you under
alot of times the saver ends up dead. the hair tow is one of the best way to tow a person back. if you can get the waders off there are ways to use them as floats, I was a life guard and at one time could swim 4 miles.

You're absolutely correct. Most of the time, an untrained rescuer's efforts only result in two victims instead of one.

l.i.fish.in.vt · 11-18-2007, 08:16 AM

one of the first things that they tell you when you take any life saving courses is reach , throw, row ,go.an untrained person trying to help another drowding victim is putting his own life on the line by going into the water to rescue. i wonder how many guys that surf fish don't know to swim. and how many actually feel comfortable in the water if they do go in?as it has been said before panick is what is kills most drownding victims.the water is a dangerous place no matter what gear you have on ,it only takes a tesspoon of water to drownd in if you inhale it wrong.

Rockport24 · 11-20-2007, 01:50 PM

I really don't know what I would do, diving into 50something degree surf to save somebody seems to be asking to become a victim yourself, however if somebody was drowning in front of me who knows.. I would probably rig up my rod with stronger leader materials and try to cast to the guy and reel him in!! you MIGHT be able to reel in a 200 pound guy with 50lb test right?

piemma · 11-20-2007, 04:50 PM

By the time you "rigged up your rod" the guy would be dead....

Rockport24 · 11-20-2007, 04:55 PM

so you're saying it's a bad idea then?

piemma · 11-20-2007, 05:36 PM

Well, I think your pulling my leg but here goes. Even if you had a spool of 50# line in your bag, how long would it take you to take the old spool off, put the new spool on, run the line through the guides, tie a lure on and cast. 2, 3, 5 minutes. You got between 30 seconds and a minute to get to the guy and get his head above water.

Bingo!!!

He's dead! Drowned! Bit the dust! Sleeping with the fishes!!

rockfisherman · 11-20-2007, 10:26 PM

Do a google search on res-q disk. I have one in my car. It could save someone without you getting in the water. I originally bought it for ice fishing and carried it on my sled, so that I could pull someone out without going in myself. But now I carry it in the car when surf casting. It takes very little practice to use. If you can throw a frisbee, you can use this.

tangler · 11-21-2007, 12:44 PM

A couple points ...... I am sure (as stated above ) whoever made the call for help feels very bad and this night will haunt them the rest of their days . We have no idea if they tried to rescue Paul or not or if they were even physically able to help.. What ever decision they made was the right one . Laying a guilt trip out there on this person ( for what ever reason) is just so very wrong .
I fish this area on a regular basis. I was there but left what must have been a couple hours before the accident. I had decided to check out the cbreachway , a place I rarely fish. I always carry a good rope and a float with me in the jeep for just such an occasion. I have used it just once but that one time I pulled a kid out of the water on Newton Ave.
I cant help feeling bad about not being there the night of Pauls accident. It was very dark early that night and the surf was crazy finding someone out there would have been difficult. Still I cant help thinking that I would have been able to help had I been there.
I have knee problems which prevent me from getting out there like I used to . I see guys out there some nights( by themselves )way too far out when the conditions are just too rough to be out there. It makes me pretty uncomfortable and more than one time I have left because I felt that if they did get in trouble I would not be able to help and a phone call would be just too late. I will say there have also been nights that I have stayed under those conditions praying that nothing goes wrong.

Please put yourself in the other guys place and seriously think about it before you pass judgment on them .

Rockport24 · 11-21-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

Well, I think your pulling my leg but here goes. Even if you had a spool of 50# line in your bag, how long would it take you to take the old spool off, put the new spool on, run the line through the guides, tie a lure on and cast. 2, 3, 5 minutes. You got between 30 seconds and a minute to get to the guy and get his head above water.

Bingo!!!

He's dead! Drowned! Bit the dust! Sleeping with the fishes!!

I was kind of joking in my second post... it wouldn't work, I agree. I would prob call 911 first (the reason why I ALWAYS have my cell phone in my waders) a lot of guys are afraid of getting it wet, but as Piemma has mentioned, a few seconds is all it takes, so sometimes there is not enough time to run back to the car to get the phone. serioulsy though, for lack of a better idea, I would try to cast to the guy and try and reel him in, even with my 20 pound mono

wheresmy50 · 11-21-2007, 05:31 PM

I don't think he should have gone in after the guy. As has been said, it seems that more times than not the rescuer becomes a victim. A few years ago in Mass? a whole family went that way. Call 911, tell them where you last saw the guy when they show up. There's nothing else you should do.

We all know the risks, and none of us should expect someone else to risk their life to save us. To quote the Sopranos "It's the life we've chosen."

I'm not sure if you guys were kidding about trying to catch a drowning person, but it seems to me that the only thing worse than drowning is drowning with someone's 3.5oz pencil popper in your face.