re: Drowning at Flatboat today...

Neoprenes, most definitely, but breathables are a little different. Then you have the panic factor. I just posted something on fb about that yesterday morning. People easily panic, and that’s when they drown. But usually it’s silent and a lot of people wouldn’t even know they were in trouble. If you can keep your head, waders aren’t bad and just have to be rolled off.

As far as why he was wearing them, maybe scared of the vibrio, or knew he was more prone to contract it so had to wear waders? Who knows, just a shitty situation all around, especially doing something that a lot of us have done a million times.

quote:

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As long as you dont panic you can swim or tread water without too much difficulty for a short distance

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A guy I used to work with drowned while wade fishing. Good swimmer, no waders, short distance to safety, but still drowned. He was actually done fishing and was wading back to his truck. He had to cross a narrow neck deep gut to get back to the bank and as he was crossing a ship went by and started sucking the water through that gut. It was obvious that he panicked because he still had a death grip on his rod and reel when they found his body.

Can you imagine how out of your mind with panic you would have to be to not let go of something that was hindering your ability to swim to safety? That's how powerful and dangerous panic can be. We all think we wouldn't panic, but you just don't know until you find yourself in that situation. After he drowned I started attaching extra flotation to my wade stringer anytime I was going to wade the surf, or unfamiliar waters. An empty milk jug may have saved his life.