Question. What do you think?

alanp · June 28, 2010, 05:09:36 PM

Exactly how long after a tragedy where someone drowns at a popular spot of the lake is it best before people should resume swimming there again?

Here's the story. I have a favorite swimming spot at the local lake. It's a little cove near the camping area. It's a pretty popular spot to take a swim. Been going there to swim laps ever since i was a kid. In the summertime I normally go out there to swim about 2 or 3 times a week. Saturday evening, a guy from another town came to visit some relatives and have a swim out there. He went under and didn't come back up. Divers recovered the body 4 hours later. Police told the press they believe was drinking.

I feel bad for the grieving family. I hate it that the event happened at all and really hate it that it happened in that area.

I had planned to go out there Sunday but decided it wasn't the best day to swim. Well, today (Monday) I went back out there for a swim..... The only one out there. In my line of thinking, police cleared the scene, diver's recovered the body, the lake remains open, normal activity should resume. Just like an auto accident on a highway, after police clear the scene the highway should reopen and motorists should resume driving.

A couple of campers asked me if I knew about the drowning, and a guy on a jet ski stopped to stair at me.

Bryancd · June 28, 2010, 05:18:13 PM

First of all, i had no idea you were a swimmer! Obviously I swim...a lot, and so does Rico. In my sport, when a death occurs during the swim, which happens a few times per year and just happened this weekend at the Philadelphia Triathlon, the athletes honor the deceased BY swimming and doing what they would have wanted to do. I feel terrible for the family's loss, but when someone gets drunk and makes a bad decision, it's not worth honoring, it's worthy of pity. I would swim.

Rico · June 28, 2010, 05:33:23 PM

I'm with Bryan. It's sad when something like this happens, but I would swim.

Bromptonboy · June 28, 2010, 05:38:16 PM

Quote from: Bryancd on June 28, 2010, 05:18:13 PM
First of all, i had no idea you were a swimmer! Obviously I swim...a lot, and so does Rico. In my sport, when a death occurs during the swim, which happens a few times per year and just happened this weekend at the Philadelphia Triathlon, the athletes honor the deceased BY swimming and doing what they would have wanted to do. I feel terrible for the family's loss, but when someone gets drunk and makes a bad decision, it's not worth honoring, it's worthy of pity. I would swim.

Yes I read about that accident - poor guy was 42 and had 2 kids. They found him.

ChadH · June 29, 2010, 08:59:40 AM

Go ahead and swim.

KingIsaacLinksr · June 29, 2010, 10:27:05 AM

Swim on. Getting drunk was his fault so be reverent, but don't stop your daily life over it.

King

X · June 29, 2010, 10:51:42 AM

As my mother likes to remind me, I'm pretty heartless when it comes to some things. Death is one of those things. I would have been swimming shortly after the body was found with no issues. I think that's for two reasons.

1) This was someone that has no connection to me and that I know nothing off. I don't grieve for what basically becomes a statistic when placed in relation to my life.

2) As cruel as it might sound, statistic wise, it's a pretty good time to swim. I mean what are the odds that you drown only hours or days after someone else did in the same location and it not being a tidal wave or flash flood?

I would like to point out that you answered your question within your post. If someone on a jet ski is making use of the water, why should you have to wait?

ori-STUDFARM · June 29, 2010, 12:15:20 PM

....you'll probably find that everybodies waiting for somebody else to take the first plunge. Once you go in, everyone will.

It's not as if you're going to be goofing around in the water having consumed copius amounts of alcohol.

X · June 29, 2010, 01:28:03 PM

Just for my peace of mind, where did it come up that he was drunk? I didn't see that in the initial post.

ori-STUDFARM · June 29, 2010, 01:32:01 PM

AlanP's first post says "police told the press they believe he had been drinking".

But, with my previous comment, I didn't want to insinuate that the poor guy was "goofing" around. I just meant that a sensible swim is different to clowning around in the water taking unnecessary risks and acting disregardful of the previous tragic events.

X · June 29, 2010, 03:09:30 PM

Quote from: ori-STUDFARM on June 29, 2010, 01:32:01 PM
AlanP's first post says "police told the press they believe he had been drinking".

But, with my previous comment, I didn't want to insinuate that the poor guy was "goofing" around. I just meant that a sensible swim is different to clowning around in the water taking unnecessary risks and acting disregardful of the previous tragic events.

Oh I wasn't trying to yell or anything. I caught the drinking part, but then I saw the posts about being drunk. I don't naturally equate drinking with being drunk. I also agree with what you just said.

alanp · June 29, 2010, 04:07:14 PM

Quote from: ori-STUDFARM on June 29, 2010, 12:15:20 PM
....you'll probably find that everybodies waiting for somebody else to take the first plunge. Once you go in, everyone will.

Yeah that's pretty much what happened. When I went yesterday I was getting some strange looks from a guy on a jet ski and a couple campers asked me if I knew they had a drowning Saturday. Went today and there were three other swimmers. I'm sure it will will pick up for the Independence Day weekend.

Thanks for all your input.