NudeDiver
Contributor
As someone who almost drowned, I can tell you that it is NOT a peaceful way to go.
Skipping to the middle of a long story - in summer of 1990, I was under water in a high flood stage river (New River, near Radford, Virginia), being pushed down from above by the rapids crashing over the rocks just up river, down into the little hole that I had gotten myself into. I wasn't really moving down river - I was just kind of stuck there - and I couldn't get to the surface because the water crashing down from above was pushing down.
So there I was, in this situation - and I was trying as hard as I could to get the surface, and just was not having any luck. At some point, I began to consciously think - so this is it - this is how people drown. I had always wondered - since my thought was, hell, if you can't swim, stay the hell out of the water. But now I was finding out. If your stupidity exceeds your skills, then yes, you can drown, even if you can swim. So, this is my thought, I'm about to die, and this is how it happens. The big mystery is solved. Oddly, there was some kind of time dilation going on, as I remember having what seemed like a very long time to ponder this thought, as I kept struggling to get to the surface. Equally oddly, although I was struggling toward the surface, there was also a strange sort of acceptance of the situation. It wasn't really what I would call "peaceful" - it was more of a detached indifference. Sort of an "oh - so this is how it's going to end" feeling. It's kind of strange when you think about it, but this is what I was very consciously thinking at the time. I could see the light at the surface of the water, but I just could not get there. Anyway - just as my lungs were about to burst from not being able to hold my breath any longer, and I was about to just give it up, I broke the surface. Quite some ways down the river, I got to the shore - my buddy was nowhere to be found (we were inner-tubing down the river, sans innertubes). I was able to hoof it back to the car and drive some ways up to the local volunteer rescue station and back down to the river. Just as they were putting their boat in the water, here he comes up from behind us - "hey guys, what's up?"
Overall, nothing peaceful about it. Later that summer, I decided no one should have to go through such an experience and became a certified lifeguard and volunteered my time at the local YMCA. Strangely enough - during one of the exercises in the class, I was the victim. I was on the bottom of the pool and they brought me to the surface, put me on the backboard and strapped me down - neck all immobilized - and the instructor was like "that's great - perfect" and then they left me there!! After everyone let go, I sunk just a bit in the water - just enough to get a taste - but there I was, immobilized and unable to help myself. Now THAT was pretty unpleasant.
Skipping to the middle of a long story - in summer of 1990, I was under water in a high flood stage river (New River, near Radford, Virginia), being pushed down from above by the rapids crashing over the rocks just up river, down into the little hole that I had gotten myself into. I wasn't really moving down river - I was just kind of stuck there - and I couldn't get to the surface because the water crashing down from above was pushing down.
So there I was, in this situation - and I was trying as hard as I could to get the surface, and just was not having any luck. At some point, I began to consciously think - so this is it - this is how people drown. I had always wondered - since my thought was, hell, if you can't swim, stay the hell out of the water. But now I was finding out. If your stupidity exceeds your skills, then yes, you can drown, even if you can swim. So, this is my thought, I'm about to die, and this is how it happens. The big mystery is solved. Oddly, there was some kind of time dilation going on, as I remember having what seemed like a very long time to ponder this thought, as I kept struggling to get to the surface. Equally oddly, although I was struggling toward the surface, there was also a strange sort of acceptance of the situation. It wasn't really what I would call "peaceful" - it was more of a detached indifference. Sort of an "oh - so this is how it's going to end" feeling. It's kind of strange when you think about it, but this is what I was very consciously thinking at the time. I could see the light at the surface of the water, but I just could not get there. Anyway - just as my lungs were about to burst from not being able to hold my breath any longer, and I was about to just give it up, I broke the surface. Quite some ways down the river, I got to the shore - my buddy was nowhere to be found (we were inner-tubing down the river, sans innertubes). I was able to hoof it back to the car and drive some ways up to the local volunteer rescue station and back down to the river. Just as they were putting their boat in the water, here he comes up from behind us - "hey guys, what's up?"
Overall, nothing peaceful about it. Later that summer, I decided no one should have to go through such an experience and became a certified lifeguard and volunteered my time at the local YMCA. Strangely enough - during one of the exercises in the class, I was the victim. I was on the bottom of the pool and they brought me to the surface, put me on the backboard and strapped me down - neck all immobilized - and the instructor was like "that's great - perfect" and then they left me there!! After everyone let go, I sunk just a bit in the water - just enough to get a taste - but there I was, immobilized and unable to help myself. Now THAT was pretty unpleasant.
Last edited:
