Grant Island Drowning

[FLAG!]

Originally Posted by tis

Anyway, three of them were rescued but one died. I don't think it's fair to rescue people to take a chance at this time of year. Yes accidents happen all the time, but going in a canoe which we all know tends to be tippy and a kayak at this time of year is foolish and selfish.

Show of hands of all those that escaped their early 20's without having done anything stupid. Tis, perhaps you don't have kids of your own, but trust me, our biggest fear is the visit from the police in the middle of the night. I thank our first responders for doing all they could. Their job is to make rescuing efforts when needed. People, especially young people, make poor decisions. Most of the time they are fortunate enough to learn from it without significant loss. Other times they are not.

[MeredithMan]

Originally Posted by FLAG!

Show of hands of all those that escaped their early 20's without having done anything stupid. Tis, perhaps you don't have kids of your own, but trust me, our biggest fear is the visit from the police in the middle of the night. I thank our first responders for doing all they could. Their job is to make rescuing efforts when needed. People, especially young people, make poor decisions. Most of the time they are fortunate enough to learn from it without significant loss. Other times they are not.

You make a very valid point. When I think back on things that I did in my college years to mid 20's, I shudder, and am reminded of an old saying my grandmother used to use, "there but for the Grace of God go I". The other elephant in the room on this one is the booze factor. The facts are not out and it would be disrespectful to the deceased and the injured to speculate, but we all know that stupid and risky behavior doesn't seem stupid or risky when you're under the influence of booze or drugs.

[Juiced06GTO]

The deceased was an employee of my best friends small electrical company, 6 guys, down here in Mass. I was speaking to him yesterday about it while we were working at my house wiring up the barn. He was a good kid and great electrician who made a bad decision. The two of us were talking about the many things we did at that age that could have ended differently. My buddy is not one to ever really get emotional, but he was pretty broken up about it yesterday. I am sure most of us felt invincible at that age, most of us made it through, some had close calls I'm sure.

[pondguy]

May this young man rest in peace .

[fatlazyless]

Here's a 2:42 video that shows 40-year old Russian woman from Moscow, Yekaterina Nekrasova swimming for 90-seconds a distance of 279-feet under the ice in Lake Baikal, Siberia on January 7, 2021. The water temp is estimated by me to be about 33.5 degrees, and the air temp was reported to be -6 degrees.

https://swimswam.com/watch-russias-n...-world-record/ ... watch Yekaterina Nekrasova break ice swimming world record, January 7, 2021

What she wore was a Speedo swim suit, a Tyr swim cap, a face mask that covers eyes and nose, a wrist watch, and a padded ring handle around her neck which I assume is an emergency handle in case she blacks out and the safety diver needs to grab it and bring her to the surface, fast. There's NO swim flippers in use on her feet.

This video looks like the real deal, and seeing her swim under the ice is very impressive and amazing to me for a person to be able to do this. So's, how about that. Don't believe it when you are told that swimming in icy cold water is an instant killer. What can kill in maybe 30-60 seconds is inhaling water and drowning. As long as you do not inhale any water, a healthy person can survive in the icy cold water for, I think, about one hour before suffering a heart attack and dying.

Best advice: cover your mouth and nose with your hand to keep the water out while you survive an ice water plunge and get it in control.

[rojda]

Originally Posted by Juiced06GTO

The deceased was an employee of my best friends small electrical company, 6 guys, down here in Mass. I was speaking to him yesterday about it while we were working at my house wiring up the barn. He was a good kid and great electrician who made a bad decision.

Was the deceased someone whose family has a house on the lake?

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Originally Posted by rojda

Was the deceased someone whose family has a house on the lake?

To borrow a famous quote from a former First Lady: “WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?” The poor young man is still dead, and his family is grieving. Their lives will never be the same, and it breaks my heart every time I think of it.

[Phantom]

Hope this helps those of you like me that could not place where Grant Isl was located

[Mr. V]

A tragedy, no question, but two questions arise:

Why on earth would they want to paddle to Grant Island at night in the dead of winter?

and

Was alcohol / drugs a factor?

[tis]

Originally Posted by FLAG!

Show of hands of all those that escaped their early 20's without having done anything stupid. Tis, perhaps you don't have kids of your own, but trust me, our biggest fear is the visit from the police in the middle of the night. I thank our first responders for doing all they could. Their job is to make rescuing efforts when needed. People, especially young people, make poor decisions. Most of the time they are fortunate enough to learn from it without significant loss. Other times they are not.

Obviously they were young and most likely partying so they weren't thinking. Yes we all do make mistakes. My plea is for people to not just decide to go out for a little ride this time of year. It is very dangerous when you fall in that icy lake. I know this personally because one year just after ice out we were bringing the boat home and tying it up, I slid off the back of the boat. I had boots and a parka on and as Flying Scot said with clothes on I could not move. Thankfully I was only waist deep but I was still paralyzed. I couldn't lift my feet. It just isn't fair to knowingly go out in this water.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by tis

O My plea is for people to not just decide to go out for a little ride this time of year. It is very dangerous when you fall in that icy lake.

When I first read your first message I missed the "drowning" subject of the post.
This is a horrible incident that seems to be happening more and more.
I still stand by if you are properly prepared, then why not take a kayak out there? These people obviously did not take the correct precautions, and that is sad. But to say everyone shouldn't is a very big ask. The Plea should be be prepared for what you do. End of season/beginning of the season kayaking is some of my favorite things to do, but again I always have wet suit on, dry suit if needed and a PFD. It's all about preparation.
My prayers go out for this person's family and friends. I have also lost a couple people that I have known through the years from kayak incidents, but most of them could have been avoided with the right gear on.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by chachee52

When I first read your first message I missed the "drowning" subject of the post.
This is a horrible incident that seems to be happening more and more.
I still stand by if you are properly prepared, then why not take a kayak out there? These people obviously did not take the correct precautions, and that is sad. But to say everyone shouldn't is a very big ask. The Plea should be be prepared for what you do. End of season/beginning of the season kayaking is some of my favorite things to do, but again I always have wet suit on, dry suit if needed and a PFD. It's all about preparation.
My prayers go out for this person's family and friends. I have also lost a couple people that I have known through the years from kayak incidents, but most of them could have been avoided with the right gear on.

Properly prepared is one thing, but remember they were out at 11pm! They had no logical reason to be out there at that time. Probably alcohol induced.