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SocalPizza t1_iwe4zbs wrote

Hearing sounds at the beach might lull you into thinking all is well. Actual drowning is usually silent.

649

bjanas t1_iwe8lbl wrote

Yup.

You might hear somebody call out when they're becoming distressed, but if they go into active drowning there's little to no sound. Maybe some mild swishing sounds.

223

churninbutter t1_iwev2v5 wrote

Yup. I was a lifeguard at a Boy Scout camp, and was up early for a 1 mile swim at the choke point of the pool we had (iirc it was like 25 yards long but had this narrow section in the middle that I was stationed in. It was a very long time ago so could be wrong on the length though). I was dutifully scanning the field of swimmers when another lifeguard on the other side of the choke point yelled my name and pointed basically to my feet. A kid not 2 feet away from the side of the pool, and honestly just inside my scan zone, was struggling to stay up and made ABSOLUTELY ZERO NOISE. It was shocking, and I basically threw the donut straight down on his head. The fact I missed someone in trouble 2 feet away from me kinda fucked me up for a bit, but what I took away from it was that someone drowning makes literally zero noise. None. Zip. Zilch. It was so crazy to me that I could have almost grabbed this person but they never said ANYTHING. It was all good because we designed our lifeguard stations with that in mind, but it was still wild to me.

136

bsloss t1_iweynl9 wrote

You shouldn’t feel bad about that… the space directly under a lifeguard stand is usually considered to be a “blind spot” for the lifeguard stationed there. Lifeguards working in teams are supposed to be trained to scan their areas as well as the spaces directly below their fellow lifeguards.

It’s one of those things that seem silly in theory, but in practice can be absolutely vital (as it seems you found out!).

107

churninbutter t1_iwezp39 wrote

I do appreciate you saying that, cause even though it’s been like a decade it’s always kinda stuck with me as like a “woah” moment. Really drove home just how silent drowning is

44

boricimo t1_iwfjwzx wrote

Did the person make even a splashing noise?

Edit: just read other comments about what real drowning looks like and makes sense why zero noise.

9

churninbutter t1_iwfkbzq wrote

No, it was like he couldn’t get his hands above the water. Like take every image you’ve ever had about someone drowning and throw it away. It was nuts how quiet it was. Hypothetically if he was the only one in the pool and the same situation happened if you were facing the other way you would have no idea something was wrong

16

Levlove t1_iwj59vf wrote

My 6 year old stepped off the bottom step in a pool while I was turned the other way saying something to my grandmother. He made absolutely no noise at all and I only realized he was drowning because I turned around to check and make sure he was still within arm’s reach (you know, so he wouldn’t drown). It’s happens SO fast and it’s so quiet. Now I won’t even swim with my younger kids unless there is a 1:1 adult to kid ratio, even if there are lifeguards, and we don’t take our eyes off them.

3

Levlove t1_iwj5ss8 wrote

My 6 year old stepped off the bottom step in a pool while I was turned the other way saying something to my grandmother. He made absolutely no noise at all and I only realized he was drowning because I turned around to check and make sure he was still within arm’s reach (you know, so he wouldn’t drown). It’s happens SO fast and it’s so quiet. Now I won’t even swim with my younger kids unless there is a 1:1 adult to kid ratio, even if there are lifeguards, and we don’t take our eyes off them.

2

Accurate_String t1_iwg15th wrote

I worked in the summers at a pool at a boy scout camp too. Only ever had to make one save. We were having a tournament of greased "watermelon" (expert it was a watermelon-sized mayo container partially filled with water). Anyways the round was over and all the kids were swimming back to the sides, except one. He was just dog paddling 2 feet away from the wall. Definitely not making a sound. He was literally right in front of me. And I just watched him dog paddle for awhile before I realized that he wasn't moving at all and that he was in the early stages of drowning. I quickly hit the deck and reached my hand out to pull him in, pretty lame as far as rescue stories go.

But it still struck me as weird that after all the training (and teaching) that I did, it took me so long to identify drowning when it was right in front of me, happening to a kid that I knew because he was in my home troop.

16

Raichu7 t1_iwg4c01 wrote

If you were a lifeguard why the hell didn’t your training tell you what drowning sounds/looks like? That’s a training issue, not your fault.

3

Blutarg t1_iwe8lee wrote

Yes, indeed. People think a drowning person will splash around and scream. Nope!

37

dbx999 t1_iweiiqq wrote

And people don’t wave their hands in a broad movement. They’re busy panicking and treading water to keep their face above water and failing at it. They pose a low profile visually with little discernible obvious motion

30

Admetus t1_iwfivbe wrote

Saw a replay video outside a swimming pool of occurrences of near drowning.

It's all kids and they just go underwater with hands above their head. Videos like that are educational because it increases your hazard awareness. It's not morbid because all children were raised and fished out promptly before inhaling any/much water.

7

bozho t1_iwftd8h wrote

If you can scream, you can breathe.

0

South_Data2898 t1_iwifiat wrote

Lol. Not even close to how that works. Just because you can exhale does not mean you can inhale.

1

bozho t1_iwiry25 wrote

In the context of active drowning, to what my original comment was referring, it does. Once your mammalian drowning reflex takes over, your airways close up to prevent you from inhaling water and you are not making much noise.

1

Bean_Juice_Brew t1_iwejcvc wrote

Correct. Active drowning looks much different than it's portrayed in the movies.

"Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level

Head tilted back with mouth open

Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus

Eyes closed

Hair over forehead or eyes

Not using legs – Vertical

Hyperventilating or gasping

Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway

Trying to roll over on the back

Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder"

Sauce: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mamamia.com.au/what-drowning-looks-like/amp/

28

PermanentTrainDamage t1_iwgln8x wrote

I did the invisible ladder climb when I nearly drowned at age 8. I thought if I kicked hard enough my head would get above water and I could breathe again. Luckily someone's mom fished me out and sat me on the side of the pool.

6

AnBearna t1_iwg8zge wrote

Yep. Seen it happening to my mate in a pool once and pulled him out. He was chatting on minute, stepped back without realising and slipped out of the shallow end to the deep part. No screams, just thrashing. Fucking scary.

1

goodluckmyway t1_iweatqs wrote

900+ people? Was he guarding a whirlpool?

375

Ironwolf7448 t1_iwf5q9k wrote

You joke, but I worked a summer at a water park. I had to rescue 3 people in one day who all went under on the same slide. One of them had swallowed enough water in the 5 seconds it took me to get to her that I had to do chest compressions to clear her airway. It’s been 10 years and I still have nightmares.

127

officialliltugboat t1_iwfpwxq wrote

I've been bringing the reality TV show "Bondi Rescue" which is focused on the lifeguards of Australia's Bondi Beach. Those mother fuckers rescue like 30 people a day, I fully believe this man had 900+ rescues after seeing Bondi

83

vanillayanyan t1_iwh60v8 wrote

Love this show! Full episodes are available on their YouTube channel.

8

officialliltugboat t1_iwhq178 wrote

That's where I'm watching it! I had no interest in this 3 weeks ago now I can name most of the lifeguards on a random beach halfway around the world

3

hellcat_uk t1_iwfpwt4 wrote

If he decides you're being rescued you're being rescued. Try telling him you're not drowning...

Joking aside, assuming not every rescue is a full-on life or death situation, over a few years I could imagine one or more per day is possible.

21

lemontreelemur OP t1_iwinlnk wrote

Sort of, in the sense it was a volatile, high-traffic area:

>Galveston was a tricky area for all levels of swimmers. On the Gulf side of the island the water is treacherous. There are sandbars and places where the ocean floor drops away unexpectedly. The riptides are a constant issue, pulling under experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.
>
>The peril was increased because in the early 1900s, few people learned water safety. The first swimming programs in the U.S. began in 1912 (see Wilbert E. Longfellow), and the programs were slow to spread throughout the country. Those who came to Galveston for vacation often did not know how to swim, because few towns and cities had public access to pools.
>
>Yet summers were hot, and there was no air conditioning until the late 1920s-1930s. Many traveled to Galveston to enjoy the cooling ocean breezes, and of course, they went into the water.
>
>Take unpredictable currents and mix in crowds of people who don’t know how to swim (or how to swim well), and Galveston had the makings of daily disaster.
>
>...
>
>Colombo’s additional advantage was that he grew up near the Galveston waters. He had intimate knowledge of how the ocean could behave in all types of weather.
>
>...
>
>Colombo often had to rescue the original victim as well as those who were trying to help.
>
>...
>
>During World War II, the beaches were overrun by soldiers on leave before shipping out, and the crowds were overwhelming. On one single afternoon, he saved 19 people.
>
>One of Colombo’s most dramatic rescues was when a tugboat hit a barge, and the barge burst into flames that quickly engulfed the tugboat. To rescue those on board, Colombo dove under the flames several times to save the men.

Tldr: Before access to swimming lessons and good water safety information, a shocking number of people used to die from drowning, especially in more dangerous areas.

3

KillerJupe t1_iwebl9n wrote

Right! I worked a busy beach one year… the only thing I ever had to get wet for was a stupid Asian fisherman who fell of his kayak and couldn’t swim.

−112

theAmericanX20 t1_iweeu3s wrote

Not to be a douche or overly PC or anything, but what does his race have to do with the rest of the comment?

107

KillerJupe t1_iwffi8s wrote

WhereI am it’s pretty common for many, not all, Asian fishermen to go out and not have any clue how to swim or how to get back on their boat.

Most people would think they are crazy or stupid.

By saying Asian fisherman I was explaining why someone would be on the water and be unable to swim. They had no business on the water as they put their lives and others in danger.

It might come across as racially prejudicial, but the vast majority of kayak rescues, where I worked, are Asian guys who can’t swim and their buddies are terrified to help… because they can’t swim either.

0

Glum_Butterfly_9308 t1_iwfi5n6 wrote

It is actually true that a lot of people in Asia don’t know how to swim. I live in Vietnam and I have personally resuscitated someone after drowning. I have several other friends who have saved drowning victims. I’ve heard of friends of friends dying because they fell in a lake and no one else could jump in and save them. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children here. None of my Vietnamese friends can swim, even ones who grew up on the coast. When I go on vacation here and to other Asian countries I often see groups of tourists wearing life jackets in waist high water.

That said, I do a lot of scuba diving and the all the boat captains I’ve met do know how to swim.

5

KillerJupe t1_iwfidm9 wrote

There are always exceptions to the “norm.”

Not every old fat white guy in Texas is a racist MAGA supporter… but a lot are ;)

1

Grimour t1_iweqvf2 wrote

Chinese fishermen atleast are notorious for fishing where they have zero rights to fish so they just turn of the radar, which is also illegal and an endangerment to nearby vessels.

−22

AdminsAreLazyID10TS t1_iwetqtt wrote

Yes, notorious Chinese industrial fishers and their kayaks.

Nothing telling about you immediately jumping to this point from "Asian businessman" at all.

31

Funktastic34 t1_iwf2mgn wrote

I bet he was illegal whaling in his kayak. Classic Chinese industrial fisherman

17

Grimour t1_iwev9h7 wrote

Ah true xD forgot the Kayak was mentioned. Sorry I AM quite sleepy.

1

owningmclovin t1_iweyxzu wrote

For what it’s worth. Turning off your own radar doesn’t stop other boats from seeing you with their radar. Their radar sends radio waves out, then measures the time it takes until it detects the reflection.

You are thinking of Automatic Identification System. I’m not sure what the laws are about turning one off if you have one, but you aren’t required by law to have one if you are under 65ft in the US. IDK about china.

8

Grimour t1_iwezkuh wrote

I don't recall the specifics either and yeah makes more sense. Thanks for the correction.

1

JeanPoutine9 t1_iwe9dul wrote

A lifeguard told me that one of the main things they look for is eye contact. “A drowning person calls for help with their eyes”

142

guynamedjames t1_iwehmye wrote

If we're throwing out one line of helpful information: if you ever think you're drowning KICK YOUR GOD DAMN LEGS.

I used to be a lifeguard and when people are panicky in the water they claw at the water to try and climb out of it. But they don't kick their legs. Your legs are the most powerful muscle groups on your body, drowning people use them as a weight to drown with. Swimming people use them to kick.

85

dbx999 t1_iweis57 wrote

One big panic inducing aspect of drowning in an ocean is the wave action - even small ones - splashing water into the victim’s open mouth. They are unable to time the waves and simply aspirate as much air as possible but a small splash of sea water can make them gag and gasp and exacerbate the panic.

39

KDallas_Multipass t1_iwevgey wrote

When I was in middle school on a guided snorkeling trip, I accidentally inhaled water through the snorkel. I couldn't catch my breath esp with waves crashing into my mouth. I struggled to get to shore, it's hard to do a freestyle stroke when you're in a coughing fit, so I doggy paddled. I was a very coordinated kid and generally felt confident when swimming, but once the coughing started it was just a cascade I couldn't break out of. In one poorly timed breath I went from being perfectly fine to deep trouble.

36

dbx999 t1_iwew494 wrote

Yes a pool swimmer can easily be caught off guard in a dynamic environment like the ocean, even close to shore. Currents and waves make swimming a different experience in the ocean. And as you said, choking on an unexpected splash of salty water into your mouth and possibly into your windpipe can be a sudden jarring moment that puts you into a distressed state of mind almost immediately. An untrained ocean swimmer can be quickly overwhelmed even if they know how to swim in pool conditions.

9

Funktastic34 t1_iwf2yzt wrote

I remember in swim class having a contest of treading with just your legs then just your arms. The arms contest is the only one that had a winner because the legs contest went on for the entire class

11

guynamedjames t1_iwf691o wrote

The lifeguard test included diving to the bottom of a ten foot pool, recovering a brick, swimming to the surface, holding the brick above your head for some time (2 minutes maybe?) And then treading water without your arms for 10 minutes. It wasn't super easy but in my several years as a lifeguard I don't remember anyone failing

9

Exist50 t1_iwet8bb wrote

I mean, if we're giving advice, I'm going to go with "Fucking learn how to swim! It might save your life one day!". Think that should about cover it.

10

pidpiper t1_iwetrwj wrote

That is obviously good advice, but it isn’t attainable for a lot of people. People in lower income areas, and people without economic resources often don’t have regular access to things like swimming pools, or the money to pay for lessons etc. So leaving things at “fucking learn to swim” doesn’t help everyone. Although it is good advice for people able to!

20

Allodemfancies t1_iwgdiyf wrote

As one of the charity-case-poor never-learned-to-swim people

Another bit of sound advice I keep to is "don't go in the water: you can't swim"

7

RisingPhoenix5 t1_iwh3xg2 wrote

Out of curiosity, is learning to swim something you intend to do, or have you just resigned yourself to staying away from water?

2

[deleted] t1_iwh676y wrote

[deleted]

2

RisingPhoenix5 t1_iwh7br9 wrote

Thats so interesting to me. I have lived near lakes my whole life, so we learned to swim early, but I can't imagine not knowing it, even if I don't swim more than a few times a year. I think the knowledge is more reassuring than anything.

Congrats on not drowning though! Keep up that streak!

3

Glum_Butterfly_9308 t1_iwfiouf wrote

People simply do not think when they panic. As a rescue diver one of the key things you practice is how to save someone who simply forgot to inflate their buoyancy control device on the surface.

In case anyone is wondering, you approach them and tell them to inflate it. If they do not, you submerge yourself before you get too close and come up behind them. Then you inflate your own BCD while wrapping your legs around their tank, reach around and inflate their BCD for them.

7

SpaceShrimp t1_iweujcy wrote

As one of the swimming people, your arms pull you through the water much more than the legs do.

2

guynamedjames t1_iwgpzyl wrote

Drowning people aren't going for propulsion, they're basically trying to tread water. Your legs are very good at keeping you above water, and have the advantage that even without knowing how to "properly" kick your feet just moving them quickly will usually keep you afloat. Plus, it's not like they're going to stop using their arms.

2

r3eezy t1_iwe6src wrote

Wait. What do life guards have against eyesight?

36

Little_Duckling t1_iwe73gh wrote

Don’t you know? Drowning people always yell “Help! I’m drowning!”

/s

30

Tellme1more t1_iwepan0 wrote

This guy used his eyes and saved 900 people. If only they’d listen to him at the lifeguard academy and let lifeguards use their eyes.

10

Few-Requirement-3544 t1_iwhrr4o wrote

They can’t listen to him because he’s deaf 🥹

1

gottaBsodomy t1_iwf13oe wrote

He used his incredible powers of swimming and looking to save lives. A true superhero.

9

Ironwolf7448 t1_iwf5yyh wrote

I worked as a lifeguard at a water park for a summer, and the idea of using SOUND to identify distressed swimmers sounds dumb as fuck to me. No wonder he had to save so many people. None of the other guards were contributing.

31

berrrrrrna t1_iwemzo2 wrote

I did a report about this guy in high school, dude was insane. Supposedly he swam up the Mississippi River for a race and dislocated his shoulder halfway through and was still able to win. Don't quote that from me tho, it's been a while since I've thought about him.

25

Landlubber77 t1_iwej53v wrote

Video games should change the name of the hardest difficulty level to "Overcoming Paralysis By Swimming."

12

johntwoods t1_iwebbbp wrote

I'll be buried in the cold cold ground before I read the actual article. That's just who I am. So, since I'm not going to read it I'm just going to extrapolate information based on the title.

He was paralyzed as a kid and everyone thought: "Swimming. That'll be his thing."?

Also he saved just under a thousand people from drowning. 1,000 people. 1,000. I don't know man, he sounds like the kind of guy who is a secret arsonist but gets a job with the fire department.

9

lemontreelemur OP t1_iwejgty wrote

Many serious childhood diseases like meningitis and polio left people partially paralyzed and water exercises were a common physical therapy, especially for poorer people who couldn't afford specialized equipment or personal doctors. Colombo's brothers basically carried him to the ocean, through the water, and back home every day to see if they could get him strong enough to walk again, and luckily it worked.

I know the feeling of not wanting to click on links, so here's the answer to your other question:

>Galveston was a tricky area for all levels of swimmers. On the Gulf side of the island the water is treacherous. There are sandbars and places where the ocean floor drops away unexpectedly. The riptides are a constant issue, pulling under experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.
>
>The peril was increased because in the early 1900s, few people learned water safety. The first swimming programs in the U.S. began in 1912 (see Wilbert E. Longfellow), and the programs were slow to spread throughout the country. Those who came to Galveston for vacation often did not know how to swim, because few towns and cities had public access to pools.
>
>Yet summers were hot, and there was no air conditioning until the late 1920s-1930s. Many traveled to Galveston to enjoy the cooling ocean breezes, and of course, they went into the water.
>
>Take unpredictable currents and mix in crowds of people who don’t know how to swim (or how to swim well), and Galveston had the makings of daily disaster.

The other thing the article doesn't mention is that the few pools available almost always banned non-White swimmers, so it was especially hard for non-White people to learn to swim in a safe setting. In his biography, Colombo said he tried to pay equal attention to swimmers of all races and ethnicities, which I guess other lifeguards weren't doing at the time (yikes). This would have also increased the numbers of potential drowning victims he noticed and saved.

41

bolanrox t1_iweg5f1 wrote

He could have worked the wave pool at Traction Park one summer

3

TheDrunon t1_iwebk8u wrote

Yeah I find it hard to believe 900 people would have drowned at wherever he was working

1

ilexheder t1_iwfle97 wrote

I mean, it helps that he was a lifeguard from age 18 to 62. (Sounds like he loved it, but also, not many jobs for the deaf back then…) If he worked at the beach 5 days a week, that’s more than 11,000 working days. A rescue every 10 working days seems plausible.

5

DannySpud2 t1_iwg0ari wrote

*Lifeguard sees a drowning person*
"Hey dude, you good?"
*silence as they sink underwater*
"Yeah they good."

6

Goober-Goob t1_iwengff wrote

No lifeguard worth their salt uses sound alone. Back when I was a lifeguard, anyone who wasn't watching the water would have been fired or forced through in-service again.

4

I_love_hate_reddit t1_iweww3h wrote

If you've ever been around someone who almost drowned they don't usually make a sound. They just slip under the water.

4

JJohnston015 t1_iwemahh wrote

I once went swimming at the beach. I got too far out and I couldn't make it back, so I started yelling for help. The lifeguard swam out and said, "Hey! Hold it down!" - Rodney Dangerfield

2

Tellme1more t1_iwep2u6 wrote

Using sight instead of sound? There’s no way this isn’t standard operating procedure. How can you hear someone I’m drowning on a beach 100 yards away. Sight is the only way.

2

mcmanaman17 t1_iwfl27w wrote

"Use of sight rather than sound". The sea is noisy as fuck, you'd expect this one to be a given.

2

PomegranatePuppy t1_iwfps6b wrote

A lot of drowning is silent... Expecting someone to call for help is just not realistic

5

IE114EVR t1_iwgc57b wrote

They say that when you lose your earsight it enhances your other senses.

2

BlackSuN42 t1_iwhfjyo wrote

900? did they all wear stone life jackets?

I lifeguarded for years and never had to "save" anyone.

2

lemontreelemur OP t1_iwimfjf wrote

>Galveston was a tricky area for all levels of swimmers. On the Gulf side of the island the water is treacherous. There are sandbars and places where the ocean floor drops away unexpectedly. The riptides are a constant issue, pulling under experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.
>
>The peril was increased because in the early 1900s, few people learned water safety. The first swimming programs in the U.S. began in 1912 (see Wilbert E. Longfellow), and the programs were slow to spread throughout the country. Those who came to Galveston for vacation often did not know how to swim, because few towns and cities had public access to pools.
>
>Yet summers were hot, and there was no air conditioning until the late 1920s-1930s. Many traveled to Galveston to enjoy the cooling ocean breezes, and of course, they went into the water.
>
>Take unpredictable currents and mix in crowds of people who don’t know how to swim (or how to swim well), and Galveston had the makings of daily disaster.
>
>...
>
>Colombo’s additional advantage was that he grew up near the Galveston waters. He had intimate knowledge of how the ocean could behave in all types of weather.
>
>...
>
>Colombo often had to rescue the original victim as well as those who were trying to help.
>
>...
>
>During World War II, the beaches were overrun by soldiers on leave before shipping out, and the crowds were overwhelming. On one single afternoon, he saved 19 people.
>
>One of Colombo’s most dramatic rescues was when a tugboat hit a barge, and the barge burst into flames that quickly engulfed the tugboat. To rescue those on board, Colombo dove under the flames several times to save the men.

Tldr; it was a dangerous area and people apparently used to drown a lot!

1

Andstuff84 t1_iwf2eot wrote

This sounds like a Forrest Gump of the ocean type story.

1

DamnImAwesome t1_iwfx7h7 wrote

Big props to whoever made a likely difficult decision to hire a deaf lifeguard.

1

theciaskaelie t1_iwg0ib4 wrote

I wonder if itd be possible to make a computer program to identify potential drowning victims, which would then bring it to the lifeguards attention and they could check it out.

Being hyper vigilant for an 8 hout shift like that has to be exhausting.

1

yarash t1_iwgbplj wrote

"Listen Ma'am I'm glad you're breathing and I'm going to save you from drowning, but there's just one other thing I wanted to talk to you about..."

1

joey4269 t1_iwgccpp wrote

As a former lifeguard, never rely on sound, drowning is a lot more silent of an activity, for lack of a better way to say, than one would expect

1

hiricinee t1_iwgooeq wrote

It sounds like they should have closed the beach he was lifeguarding at. I don't know the specific stats but that's way above the normal number of incidents, rescues aside.

1

lemontreelemur OP t1_iwimt48 wrote

You are correct, it was very dangerous but swimming was one of the few ways for non-wealthy people to stay cool during heatwaves, and also it was an important military area:

>Galveston was a tricky area for all levels of swimmers. On the Gulf side of the island the water is treacherous. There are sandbars and places where the ocean floor drops away unexpectedly. The riptides are a constant issue, pulling under experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.
>
>The peril was increased because in the early 1900s, few people learned water safety. The first swimming programs in the U.S. began in 1912 (see Wilbert E. Longfellow), and the programs were slow to spread throughout the country. Those who came to Galveston for vacation often did not know how to swim, because few towns and cities had public access to pools.
>
>Yet summers were hot, and there was no air conditioning until the late 1920s-1930s. Many traveled to Galveston to enjoy the cooling ocean breezes, and of course, they went into the water.
>
>Take unpredictable currents and mix in crowds of people who don’t know how to swim (or how to swim well), and Galveston had the makings of daily disaster.
>
>...
>
>Colombo’s additional advantage was that he grew up near the Galveston waters. He had intimate knowledge of how the ocean could behave in all types of weather.
>
>...
>
>Colombo often had to rescue the original victim as well as those who were trying to help.
>
>...
>
>During World War II, the beaches were overrun by soldiers on leave before shipping out, and the crowds were overwhelming. On one single afternoon, he saved 19 people.
>
>One of Colombo’s most dramatic rescues was when a tugboat hit a barge, and the barge burst into flames that quickly engulfed the tugboat. To rescue those on board, Colombo dove under the flames several times to save the men.

1

RonSwansonsOldMan t1_iwhd5gd wrote

It sounds like wherever this guy was hanging out, swimming lessons for others would have been a good thing.

1

Biovyn t1_iwheqsr wrote

Leroy Colombo is the most 80s action hero's name I've heard in a long time!

1

HPmoni t1_iwhlwnb wrote

Sight is more important though.

1

South_Data2898 t1_iwif8bv wrote

Lifeguards seriously don't get paid enough.

1

[deleted] t1_iwiu804 wrote

I thought drowning people don’t make noise in the first place?

1

Herdazian_Lopen t1_iwg8vib wrote

Crazy that we went so long with blind lifeguards.

0

Awellplanned t1_iwgbw05 wrote

That’s a long career or a lot of shitty swimmers.

0

LordSwright t1_iwh3ztq wrote

He was the only one to use sight?!?

So all the other life guards just figured, well I can hear so I don't have to look?!?

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Macleod7373 t1_iwfj7mm wrote

Wait, could this be diversity and inclusiveness in action??????!!!1one

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FridensLilja t1_iwg2abw wrote

How the fuck are you able to save 900 from drowning?

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lemontreelemur OP t1_iwindgy wrote

>Galveston was a tricky area for all levels of swimmers. On the Gulf side of the island the water is treacherous. There are sandbars and places where the ocean floor drops away unexpectedly. The riptides are a constant issue, pulling under experienced and inexperienced swimmers alike.

The peril was increased because in the early 1900s, few people learned water safety. The first swimming programs in the U.S. began in 1912 (see Wilbert E. Longfellow), and the programs were slow to spread throughout the country. Those who came to Galveston for vacation often did not know how to swim, because few towns and cities had public access to pools.

Yet summers were hot, and there was no air conditioning until the late 1920s-1930s. Many traveled to Galveston to enjoy the cooling ocean breezes, and of course, they went into the water.

Take unpredictable currents and mix in crowds of people who don’t know how to swim (or how to swim well), and Galveston had the makings of daily disaster.

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Colombo’s additional advantage was that he grew up near the Galveston waters. He had intimate knowledge of how the ocean could behave in all types of weather.

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Colombo often had to rescue the original victim as well as those who were trying to help.

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During World War II, the beaches were overrun by soldiers on leave before shipping out, and the crowds were overwhelming. On one single afternoon, he saved 19 people.

One of Colombo’s most dramatic rescues was when a tugboat hit a barge, and the barge burst into flames that quickly engulfed the tugboat. To rescue those on board, Colombo dove under the flames several times to save the men.

Tldr: Before access to swimming lessons and good water safety information, a shocking number of people used to die from drowning, especially in more dangerous areas.

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Looking4Maria t1_iwerze5 wrote

"Im fine i was just playing in the water!"

Him: damn ive had to save this little kid 7 times today

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