Hunter's Missing
- Thread starter james ungehajer
- Start date
These incidents always give me reason to reflect on my own duck hunting. I often look around while I'm out on the bay in December or January and take note of how desolate it is compared to the warmer months. It's a feeling that can be both satisfying and frightening at the same time. A lone kayaker just died this winter in the very same waters I hunt. I guess all we can do is feel for the victims and their families and try to learn from their tragedies.
It's easy to assume it's ok when the weather is warm, but the WATER isn't warm. One always needs to plan for that possibility that you will end up in the water. Living on the Delaware river for 15 years taught me that. I saw a lot of accidents and even fatalities when a warm winter day attracted people with canoes. You can never be too careful when you are out on water that's below 50 degrees. It's amazing how fast you can be overcome by the cold temperature.
On the news the other day the ocean temp was only 40 degrees, the Titanic when it went down the water was only 28 degrees, people though still have to hunt and fish, when i had a boat i use to stop striper fishing in December, but i did not venture too far off of Holgate in case an emergency arose.
Jim
Jim
People usually don't respect the water nearly enough, unless they work on it. I worked on it for a time, and I respect it. Even water that you would say feels warm will kill you pretty quickly. In water up to 60 deg. F. you'll survive 1 - 6 hours depending on initial condition.
http://www.ussartf.org/cold_water_survival.htm
I once went into the Delaware at Penns Landing in January, feet first from the seawall, to pull out a drunk in an overcoat who was sinking fast. I was very stupid, but fortunately a ship's carpenter from Maryland headed over to the Gazela and grabbed a skiff as soon as he saw me strip off my sweater. If he hadn't... I might have made the dock across the inner harbor, but that's not certain, and I definitely would not have if I was dragging the drunk behind me. I was in maybe a total of 3-4 minutes, and was already having trouble breathing and moving my arms.
The impact of hitting that water... I can feel it to this day.
http://www.ussartf.org/cold_water_survival.htm
I once went into the Delaware at Penns Landing in January, feet first from the seawall, to pull out a drunk in an overcoat who was sinking fast. I was very stupid, but fortunately a ship's carpenter from Maryland headed over to the Gazela and grabbed a skiff as soon as he saw me strip off my sweater. If he hadn't... I might have made the dock across the inner harbor, but that's not certain, and I definitely would not have if I was dragging the drunk behind me. I was in maybe a total of 3-4 minutes, and was already having trouble breathing and moving my arms.
The impact of hitting that water... I can feel it to this day.
Yeah, he made it. Last I saw him they were hustling him off in an ambulance. Andre Armbruster, who used to be the harbormaster at Penn's Landing and a good friend of mine, hustled me into his office and broke out the medicinal spirits 
. I heard from Andre later that the cops told him the guy pulled through. He was sort-of conscious when we broke the surface, but not much. I've wondered from time to time whether he even knows how close he came to dying. He had sunk out of sight by the time my feet hit the water. At the bottom of my plunge I waved my arm around blindly below me and struck his coat. If I'd missed he'd be dead.
. I heard from Andre later that the cops told him the guy pulled through. He was sort-of conscious when we broke the surface, but not much. I've wondered from time to time whether he even knows how close he came to dying. He had sunk out of sight by the time my feet hit the water. At the bottom of my plunge I waved my arm around blindly below me and struck his coat. If I'd missed he'd be dead.
Wow. That is quite a story, Mark. You're a real live hero! I guess you never spoke to him after that?
I rescued my neighbor's Golden Retriever from the river in my back yard when she fell through the ice and she went from conscious to unconscious and well on her way to dying of hypothermia in about 30 seconds. It happens FAST. I did not, however, risk my life and jump in to get her like you did, I was able to wade in up to my knees and grab her leg while a friend held me by the belt. I was struck even before I was able to get to her just how fast she was totally overcome when she fell through the ice.
I guess you never spoke to him after that? I rescued my neighbor's Golden Retriever from the river in my back yard when she fell through the ice and she went from conscious to unconscious and well on her way to dying of hypothermia in about 30 seconds. It happens FAST. I did not, however, risk my life and jump in to get her like you did, I was able to wade in up to my knees and grab her leg while a friend held me by the belt. I was struck even before I was able to get to her just how fast she was totally overcome when she fell through the ice.
i'm always surprised by fisherman and hunters (who recreate during the winter) that do not dress for immersion.. bundling up for the air is one thing, but that sale insulation doesn't work in the water.. as a kayaker, i only have a few wetsuits.. never spent the money on a drysuit, hence i do not kayak in the dead of winter.. a few of our nutty club members do (using drysuits.. ).. they really seem to work.. would wearing a drysuit make hunting or fishing more restrictive ? in terms of personal movement..
I like cold water and while I am not foolish and overconfident about the seriousness of hypothermia, I enjoy a cool dip. Cold water is serious stuff that will creep up on you and should be taken seriously. I've pushed it once or twice and learned to set conservative limitations. In reading Mark's link and hearing his story (Valiant kudos to you sir!), I can attest the things that happen to your body with instant immersion are shockingly fast and a little disturbing. It is exhilarating after you're through, I know that sounds like a real A-hole statement in light of this thread, but the effects are not to be taken lightly. I've been in 28 to 33 degree water a number of times.
You can loose control of yourself very quickly!
To be a sportsman or outdoor worker near water, I would hope precautions are taken and accidents considered. It seems this was a tragic mistake with a little lack of planning involved. some things can't be forseen though. Must be a horrible ending for families expecting loved ones to come home from a joyful hobby and hunting excursion. No one should have to deal with that.
G.
You can loose control of yourself very quickly!
To be a sportsman or outdoor worker near water, I would hope precautions are taken and accidents considered. It seems this was a tragic mistake with a little lack of planning involved. some things can't be forseen though. Must be a horrible ending for families expecting loved ones to come home from a joyful hobby and hunting excursion. No one should have to deal with that.
G.
Never did, and the Inquirer didn't print anything about it the next day that I saw. Just another drunk in Philly, I guess. This was January of 1985. Hope he did something with his life.
It's very nice of you to say the word "hero", but with the perspective of 20 years, it was a very stupid and impulsive thing to do. Nine times out of ten what will happen in that situation is two people will die. The water was 30-35 degrees, and there was ice in the yacht basin. It would normally be a lot easier on the clean-up crews if you just run a hose from your tailpipe and relax for a bit
.I had three friends who followed me over when we heard the ruckus: a big Syrian who was the Gazela's boatswain, the carpenter from St. Michaels who went for the boat, and another carpenter who later was lost in the wreck of the Pride of Baltimore. If it had just been me and the small crowd of bystanders, I hope I would not have gone in. I'm glad it turned out the way it did, and I hope the guy didn't get drunk again the next night and get hit by a car.
Later I did two seasons aboard a skipjack in Maryland's winter oyster fishery, and I think that experience in Philly served me well a couple of times. Skipjacks don't have much freeboard.
It's just a little anecdote that reinforces the main point: most people, including me that day, don't know how much respect the water deserves until they're in it. I'd need more fingers than I have to count the people I'm personally aware of who have gotten drunk on or around a yacht and died because of it.
This all happened about 3 miles from me. They put there boat in at Husted`s Landing Marina N39 21.031 W075 15.481 and the one body was found was at (Coords givin by the C.G. Helo) N39 01.0 W075 15.6 Sad as it is, it happens every year with duck hunters or fisherman in this bay area.