Man drowns in ocean while attempting rescue

[1pump]

I was down at the CG aviation station at the Newport airport on Friday. I was BS'ing with the CG dudes while my truck was pumping off JP8, and the crew chief of the helo was telling me about this. He said the body they recovered was fully clothed, and that he might as well have been wearing weights. He said the poor guy might have had a chance if he had chucked his clothes before entering the water. On top of that, jeans are no protection against hypothermia. :depressed: I wasn't there, obviously, but they should have tried to call the CG first before attempting a rescue. It would be easier for the CG to rescue two people instead of four. :depressed:

[The Fishing Geek]

That's frustrating. Some idiot parents let their girls wander out into an unsafe area and because of their stupidity one very brave young man dies, and almost a second, trying to rescue them.

The Coasties are seldom very far from anywhere on the coast. Call them, and let them do their jobs. The rough surf is no place for mortal men. Only Coast Guard personnel, and those capable of landing 19' sturgeon, should brave such conditions.

[JCJ]

A shame to have a young life cut short like this.The article in todays Oregonian said the girls were 13 and 14 years old and they were stranded on a sandbar by the incoming tide.Maybe better to call for help if the danger was not immediate.

[edit]linked story[/edit]

[ 06-07-2003, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: The Fishing Geek ]

[fishing is life]

My heart goes out to the family that lost their son's life. He died trying to help other strangers. It is hard to stand by and watch two young girls frantic while waiting for help. I will have to really analyze the situation in the future before i get myself in trouble too.

[STGRule]

You know he thought he had to do what he did, he probably never even thought twice about trying to help. That is a hero. The truth is the girls should never have been there. And he shouldn't have gone out. And hindsight is 20/20. And I'm so sorry for his family. :depressed:

[crabbait]

Couldn't have said it better, STG. A sad tale.

[Born to be Wild]

Ditto that crabbait.

I have learned some interesting points from some of these responces like for example 1pump telling us about the clothing issue, etc.

I'm afraid I couldn't have stood still either when those girls were in distress. I might have considered my age and health though.

Most important thing I learned though was to get the "coasties" on there way first.

Thanks for posting that Oregonian article link JCJ. That was a very well written article.

[Born to be Wild]

Tragic! What would you have done?

Man drowns in ocean while attempting rescue
A Coast Guard helicopter hoists a rescue swimmer out of the surf during a water rescue Thursday afternoon off of Newport's Nye Beach. One man drowned, and three other victims were treated at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and released. (Photo by Steve Card)



By Steve Card
Of the News-Times
A man drowned in the ocean off Newport's Nye Beach late Thursday afternoon after he and another adult male entered the water in an attempt to assist two young girls in distress.
Names of the individuals were not available as of press time Thursday evening. Newport Fire Chief Rick Crook did say, however, that two girls, ages 8 and 10, were heard in the surf calling for help about 4 p.m. Two adult males on the beach heard their calls for help and went to their aid. One of the men, believed to be 21 years of age, got into trouble in the water himself.
The two girls were pulled from the surf by U.S. Coast Guard personnel aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Yaquina Bay. They were transported back to Yaquina Bay and then taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport for treatment.
The other man who went into the ocean to help the girls was able to get back to the beach on his own, where he was then tended to by paramedics from the Newport fire department.
Another Coast Guard boat stood by just beyond the surf line while a Coast Guard helicopter from the Newport air facility hovered overhead to search for the fourth person in the water. Scott Clendenin, a former Coast Guard commander and now a volunteer firefighter, was in the surf looking for the individual, as was a rescue swimmer from the helicopter.
The man was found floating in the water about 4:30 p.m. and was placed into a rescue basket. The helicopter hoisted him from the water and then lowered him on the beach, where paramedics began attempting to resuscitate him. He was placed in a fire department rescue unit and transported to the hospital.
Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital spokesperson Linda Kilbride said that the man was pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m. The other three involved were all treated and released.

http://www.newportnewstimes.com/nt_n...html#TopOfPage

[ 06-07-2003, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: DepoeBayDan ]

[drhall99]

Definition of a Hero - A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

Yup, that fits. Such a sad loss of life.

[greenbuttskunk]

Lump me in that group as someone who would gladly risk my life to save the life of another, especially a drowning child.
I don't look at it as hero stuff, just my own personal responsibility. It's very tragic that this man had to die, and I would hope the family of the girls would feel a deep sense of gratitude to him and his surviving loved ones.