Very sad

[Dunc]

A local Teenager is missing presumed drowned 
 Our boat wasnt involved in the search as its further up the coast and not on our patch .Looks like its just a waiting game to see if and where his body will be recovered.

Why oh why wont they wear lifejackets or boyancy aids 

What a needless waist 

Full story here

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED24%20Jun%202008%2012%3A25%3A23%3A913

Dunc

[nezza33]

If you look on our website yeterday we were called out to a biker,sadly he died.

[Leatherman123]

That's very unfortunate. While on duty, I've seen a few deaths myself.. 

[I'm Still Bison]

This paragraph stood out to me:

"It also emerged yesterday that an emergency station close to the scene had been vandalised. A lifebelt was missing and the cord to an emergency telephone had been cut. It is not known whether anyone had tried to use it when the teen's inflatable capsized."
   
There should be a special place in hell for those that are so callous,irresponsible as to jeopardize lives for a thrill.One of the few good things that should come out of higher fuel prices here,ought to be a reduction in the number of boating and ATV fatalities.I've already seen a big drop in the number of pleasure boaters out on the Ohio River.

[Benner]

Very sad that mate. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That is grim news indeed guy's

All that potential...gone

[Grant Lamontagne]

I really don't mean to sound callous, but drowning because you aren't wearing a pfd while out on the water is really death by stupidity than anything else.  Life jackets aren't the same as they used to be- in the old days it was a vest with numerous foam bricks stitched into it, but modern ones are quite comfortable and more like windbreaker vests.  My pfd is neoprene and not bulky at all- and there are some that are much more comfortable than mine, and some others that are like nothing at all, and inflate instantly by tugging a cord.

There is no reason whatsoever for a death like this to occur.

Def

[Dunc]

I really don't mean to sound callous, but drowning because you aren't wearing a pfd while out on the water is really death by stupidity than anything else.  Life jackets aren't the same as they used to be- in the old days it was a vest with numerous foam bricks stitched into it, but modern ones are quite comfortable and more like windbreaker vests.  My pfd is neoprene and not bulky at all- and there are some that are much more comfortable than mine, and some others that are like nothing at all, and inflate instantly by tugging a cord.

There is no reason whatsoever for a death like this to occur.

Def

I know    but so many kids and adults think they know better . "It wont happen to me " kind of thing and then it all goes pear shapped 

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I really don't mean to sound callous, but drowning because you aren't wearing a pfd while out on the water is really death by stupidity than anything else.  Life jackets aren't the same as they used to be- in the old days it was a vest with numerous foam bricks stitched into it, but modern ones are quite comfortable and more like windbreaker vests.  My pfd is neoprene and not bulky at all- and there are some that are much more comfortable than mine, and some others that are like nothing at all, and inflate instantly by tugging a cord.

There is no reason whatsoever for a death like this to occur.

Def

I know    but so many kids and adults think they know better . "It wont happen to me " kind of thing and then it all goes pear shapped 

Dunc

I know what you mean, and it's not as if we haven't all seen a bright yellow helicopter when we've been to the beach, that should be all the warning of danger we need!

[duckman1975]

Its so ironic that something that is as beautiful as the sea can take so many lives 

[Leatherman123]

I am with Def on this one. I have been in the water my whole life. Ever since I was about three I have been in the ocean, lakes, rivers, and pools of New England. Despite this, I still where a PFD.. Lets say I was in my Mako CC and I hit a sandbar or something.. Then, I get knocked unconscious and fall in the water. The PFD would save my life. It would keep my head above water. I don't like to take chances like this, so I am always wearing a PFD while boating and fishing!

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's not even a comment on how well you can swim- much of it has to do with how long it can take to be rescued.  I'm certain that the lifeboat response time is as fast as humanly possible, but how long will it be until it can be dispatched?  If no one knows you have fallen in, it could be hours before family members get concerned and wonder where you are and start making inquiries.  Treading water for several hours until someone starts to get concerned, then another few while rescue workers search for you can kill you just as easily as the water can.

It just seems like such a marked difference- without a pfd you have like a 20% chance of surviving, while with one you have a 90% chance of surviving.  I could see risking a bit of discomfort or buying into your own invulnerability if the odds were closer, but lets face it, you are pretty hard pressed to drown while wearing a properly fitted pfd.  Not impossible mind you, but very difficult.

Def

[Dunc]

I here what you say about response times , we have to be launched within 25mins of our pagers going off ,as we have to get to the boat shed put our gear on and launch the boat . The 25minute guide is set by H.M Coastguard . Last year I was just leaving my car in a supermarket car park about 4 miles from the boat shed when my pager went off , we launched 16 mins later  It was the first time I helmed ( drove the boat ) on a shout  . Our best was 9 mins from pagers going off . Not much good if your drowning though 

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Still very impressive times though mate

[duckman1975]

I here what you say about response times , we have to be launched within 25mins of our pagers going off ,as we have to get to the boat shed put our gear on and launch the boat . The 25minute guide is set by H.M Coastguard . Last year I was just leaving my car in a supermarket car park about 4 miles from the boat shed when my pager went off , we launched 16 mins later  It was the first time I helmed ( drove the boat ) on a shout  . Our best was 9 mins from pagers going off . Not much good if your drowning though 

Dunc

Thats very impressive, we could use guys like you here.