Very sad story

[Des Jenkins]

Her in NSW tere have been 6 drownings in a week, one at our beach on the South coast, most were rock fishermen being swept off by the huge waves,none wearing as they are told time and time again to wear a lifebelt.
But the saddest death was a nine year old boy playing on the beach climbing over some low smooth rocks, he jumped down and got his foot trapped between the rocks, they could not t free him despite their best efforts and he drowned.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

Yes indeed Des not a very good Week End for some , and that poor Youngster gee how unlucky can you get! Terrible !
Then to Crown it all off of course the Death of the Pope, a heartbreaking occurance for Millions of Catholics and others too. So may he now Rest in Peace, and go with his Maker!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

According to our records here in Victoria the most drownings are amongst ne migrants from mid east countries and China.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
You are right, the only thing with the Chinese is many have never seen a beach, but you would think that the ones from the Middle East would be wary of the sea, after all in the last ten years thousands of them have drowned trying to get to Europe.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Many more were drowned on their way from Indonesia in small boats until we stopped them.
English Channel is alive with small rubber dinghies, surprised not more drowned that there are.

[James Curry]

John, reason the death toll ref: small boat channel crosings is the RNLI operating a channel taxi service. The French shepherd them across until they are in British waters, then if they get into supposed difficulty it is not the a french problem. Surely they can be tracked on Radar? It really is time the UK grew a pair of balls and shepherded them back to the french side.

Morecambe Bay cockling disaster,
On the evening of 5 February 2004, at least 21 Chinese undocumented migrants were drowned by an incoming tide at Morecambe Bay in North West England, while illegally harvesting cockles off the Lancashire coast. Fifteen other labourers from the same group managed to return safely to shore.

Always sad when one hears about an accidentdal drowning especially when it involves young children. How many times do we hear about kids drowning in old disused quarrys. Not that we get that many but wrm days in the UK but as son as the sun comes out for a few daysthat's it tops off and jump into a water fillde quarry or a river air temp might be 25c but water temperature might be about 8 degrees, bang thermal shock

Cold water shock occurs when a person is suddenly immersed in water with a temperature below 15°C. This shock can cause an immediate loss of breathing control, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and muscle spasms, leading to a rapid drowning risk even for strong swimmers.

Who remembers doing there survival course , always told deep breath before you jump in and exhale sloowing when you hit the water that way you certainly reduce the likely hood gasping for breath.

When I was reasonably fit I would go cold water swimming, certainly long before it became fashionable. The buzz was exhilarating once in a good swim left you with a healthy glow and your body tingiling feeling great.

[happy daze john in oz]

Jumping into very cold water can induce a heart attack, so be very careful where you bathe.