Hawaii Drownings

[sammyg2]

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I lived on Ohau for a couple of years starting in 2010.

When I arrived, a death investigation immediately hit my desk. That would be the first of many during my time there. I even left some for my successor.

I agree with others, people are stupid, especially tourists. They just don't appreciate the fact that the ocean is unforgiving and takes no prisoners.

One time at Pipe watching locals surf during a huge swell we were standing at the wet line on the beach. Some tourists came up and decided to stand in front of everyone, not realizing that we were standing where surge would not hit. Within 5 minutes a huge wave came along with its surge, their 5 year old daughter was upended and only saved from the rip by a very quick hand.

One other day we were also on the North Shore collecting sea glass, not getting in the huge surf that day which was shore breaks about 10 feet or more. The lifeguard came down on his quad and told me to not let my kids in the water. Several minutes later he came back to get the young tourists out of the shore breaks. They thought it was funny but they were literally getting thrown around like rag dolls and were lucky to walk away with their lives.

Keiki beach shore breaks on some lesser days:

Back in high school, we'd bodysurf at Sandy's all the time. I have been pounded by the shorebreak more times than I can remember!

[id10t]

Here in Florida we have the occasional shark or gator attack, or a venomous snake biting someone.

Our preventable deaths typically involve a sign like this posted under water...

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Texans are prone to drowning - especially the ones from Mexico. One of the posters on this thread is oblivious.

Makes sense considering native Texans are from Mexico.

[island911]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Back in high school, we'd bodysurf at Sandy's all the time. I have been pounded by the shorebreak more times than I can remember!

Yeah, but you weren't a tourist. Because according to posters above, those are the only stupid ones.

Seriously, this whole hand-wringing thread and HufPo story... And in other news, small plane pilots disproportionately die in plane crashes. Graph at 11..

People live. People die. -Even those who never do much living.

[island911]

How's the saying go... Life is a balance between risk and boredom.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Makes sense considering native Texans are from Mexico.

bull ****.
How many native Texans alive today were born before 1845 and after 1810?

It was only part of mexico for 30 years.

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Makes sense considering native Texans are from Mexico.

Be sure and flush that crap afterwards.

[Geary]

Stuff happens even to seasoned veterans. Just yesterday, an old friend that I used to body surf with all the time told me about his brush with drowning. A small day @ Sandy beach, he was just farting around, barely clipped his forehead on the sand, and washed up on shore, facedown, fully paralyzed. The next wave flipped him over onto his back. An early morning session, he was extremely fortunate in that someone realized his predicament and pulled him up the beach.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

bull ****.
How many native Texans alive today were born before 1845 and after 1810?

It was only part of mexico for 30 years.

It was Mexico before it was Texas.

So multi generational Texans are Mexicans.

Simple logic.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Be sure and flush that crap afterwards.

If you are having trouble remembering simple tasks you should go see a Dr about that.

In the mean time hang a little reminder sign on the back of your bathroom door so you stop stinkin the place up.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

bull ****.
How many native Texans alive today were born before 1845 and after 1810?

It was only part of mexico for 30 years.

Actually it was only 15 yrs from 1821-1836 when Texans declared independence from Mexico. Even during those years it was a loosely held territory with little cooperation from inhabitants. At this point it is safe to say all claims made by Santa Anna have expired.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Texas

[intakexhaust]

Riptides are wicked too. Most talk of it along ocean shorelines, but its pretty common in the Great Lakes. Often hear news of drownings. Can sneak up and grab hold of one in seconds, sweep you out. Strong swimmers or not, I imagine most tourist are caught off-guard not realizing whats happened as the shoreline all of sudden is a few hundred yards further away.

Only hope for a save is to remain calm, flip on the back and swim parallel to the shoreline until you're out of it.

[intakexhaust]

Playing in those big breaks.... hell no!

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by island911

How's the saying go... Life is a balance between risk and boredom.

I like that

[thamlin000]

Cool pics of Sandys! I was there almost weekly when I lived on Oahu during my high school years around 20 yrs ago. We'd catch barrels using plastic McDonald's trays to bodysurf.

The waves drop you into 6" of water. Anyone going over the falls head first is (literally) lucky to walk away from that beach. The lifeguards were great about warning tourists from exploring too close. Back then most tourists were Japanese and since I haven't been back since I moved away, I'm not sure if that has changed.

[Geary]

Sandy Beach '67

[Cajundaddy]

I lost my appreciation for shore breaks. Back when I was young and invincible we used to hit the wedge whenever it was pumping. I was ejected onto the sand more times than I care to remember and after a few major face plants complete with concussions I moved on to other breaks with a more favorable risk/reward. Several friends experienced spinal cord injuries in those days and that looked like a hard road I didn't need to go down.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

I lost my appreciation for shore breaks. Back when I was young and invincible we used to hit the wedge whenever it was pumping. I was ejected onto the sand more times than I care to remember and after a few major face plants complete with concussions I moved on to other breaks with a more favorable risk/reward. Several friends experienced spinal cord injuries in those days and that looked like a hard road I didn't need to go down.

More than once I thanked "you know who" for the fact that I was wearing fins at the wedge, or I wouldn't have made it.
Nothing like a 15 foot shore-break to get your heart pumping