Hey all.I went to my regular beach today,to do some water hunting.I got there at low tide,and started to hunt. I was in water about chest deep,and came across a sand bar. I crossed the sand bar (Bad choice#1),and was hunting in water waist deep.I was out for two hours,and decided to come in.Here's where my stupidity could have killed me. The water that was chest deep two hours ago, on the front side of the sand bar was now over my head. ( Bad choice#2) I decide to "swim" for shallower water carrying a 3 pound metal scoop,a 4 pound garrett seahunter,and a finds bag with another 1 pound of crap.I ease into the water,and the first three seconds aren't too bad. The fourth second I begin to sink like a rock.I am treading water to shore,nearly exhausted and still can't touch bottom.(Bad choice#3) I should have dropped the scoop,detector,and goody bag, like it was on fire! Finally after going under one time ,and swallowing water I used the detector shaft to push myself up and in two times.Thank God! I could just stand now. I swallowed water again,from a wave but" hopped" myself to shore-totally exhausted. Looking back... I should have never crossed the sand bar,greed made me do it. The thought of gold in deeper water.I should have never even ATTEMPTED to swim for shore,carrying anything.(greed again,not wanting to loose $600 worth of equipment) And finally Vanity- I could have stood where I was at, and yelled for help. there were people everywhere. I didn't want to look like a "dumbass tourist" Did I learn my lesson today???? You bet your sweet ass! Thanks all,good hunting.
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A few bad decisions almost got me killed today
- Thread starter tmattei
- Start date
Anyone can get themselves in a bad situation......some problem solving might save somebody's life in the future. 
Goldstrike
Well-known member
[size=large]Check out Onyx self inflating life vests (Ebay) and get yourself one for around $100.....It can get you out of those life threatening situations that we sometimes get ourselves into! H.H.[size=large]You might want to consider getting 2 of them. One for yourself and one for your equiptment!!!![/size]
MNCoinhunter
Active member
Yes, invest in some sort of approved flotation device and keep enjoying your hobby amongst the living !
Ran into a pair of surf fisherman last fall (November at the Jersey shore) who did the same "wade out to the sandbar at low tide". A couple other fisherman saw them and waded out neck deep to extend their fishing rods to them and pull them to shallower water. I walked one of them back to his car to be sure he was OK to drive home (at least a 1 hour drive and the ocean wasn't too warm). By the time we got his waders & gear off and away he settled down. I think I know how you felt and feel just from this guys reaction. It was scarry for me!! Glad you are OK.
IMO, you were very lucky to have survived. Gulping water twice could have very easily overcame you! I used to be like a fish out of water when a little younger, and never understood how proficient swimmers ever drowned, but it only takes that one time like you almost had. I have respect for a lot of things now, including the water.
Story tho tell though. My brother lives up in the Ozarks of Arkansas, deer are thick as all git up there. One of his good friends called him one morning when I was visiting to say that he, his son and a step son I believe, had put a flat bottom boat in a lake in the dark hours of the morning to get to deer stands. Well, they took on water somehow about 100 feet from shore, each tried to swim back with their guns and all their cold weather gear, and all but my brother's friend survived. Pretty sad ending. martin
Story tho tell though. My brother lives up in the Ozarks of Arkansas, deer are thick as all git up there. One of his good friends called him one morning when I was visiting to say that he, his son and a step son I believe, had put a flat bottom boat in a lake in the dark hours of the morning to get to deer stands. Well, they took on water somehow about 100 feet from shore, each tried to swim back with their guns and all their cold weather gear, and all but my brother's friend survived. Pretty sad ending. martin
BigCatDaddy
New member
Had a similar situation happen to me last year at the end of water hunting season, went straight away at the beginning of this water hunting season and bought a PFD. I can't get out in the DEEP water, but at least I can get out of the water. I was surprised at how well I DON'T swim with all my gear on too!! Glad you survived it, now go get yourself a good PFD and wear it, no matter how shallow you are hunting!!
Live and learn as more than one detectorists has drowned in similiar situations. Wave currents, undertows, and drop off are deadly..Like the idea of flotation vest myself...Some day in your local lake put on some old clothes and try to swim and you can see why even an expert swimmer becomes a lump of lead with clothes on..
TRIPLE-SSS
Well-known member
Good information to share with everyone, glad your OK.
Stan.
Stan.
I used to be a lifeguard, and here's what you ought to have done (besides never getting yourself in this in the first place):
When the water got deep, figure out that it can't be much deeper than your head, and 'bounce' your way off the bottom to shore. You have to be calm and not panicked, of course.
You have to stay upright, but you only have to breathe occasionally, so this works well. Keeping yourself on the top of the water all the time is too much effort for the weight as you figured out. It's like drown proofing but it gets you to shore if the water isn't too deep and the distance isn't too far.
Never lose your head in water, it can be your friend or a deadly enemy depending if you fight it or use it.
The suggestion of a buoyancy device is a great one. I always say it makes it easier for the sheriff to find your body.)
When the water got deep, figure out that it can't be much deeper than your head, and 'bounce' your way off the bottom to shore. You have to be calm and not panicked, of course.
You have to stay upright, but you only have to breathe occasionally, so this works well. Keeping yourself on the top of the water all the time is too much effort for the weight as you figured out. It's like drown proofing but it gets you to shore if the water isn't too deep and the distance isn't too far.
Never lose your head in water, it can be your friend or a deadly enemy depending if you fight it or use it.
The suggestion of a buoyancy device is a great one. I always say it makes it easier for the sheriff to find your body.
)I was detecting a beach once,,on shore! And I noticed a guy ,,way out there,,, yelling and screaming,,but I couldn't understand him and there was some people around him,,,,,so I didn't pay much attention.
A few minutes later ,,,,,here he was walking up onto beach just a swearing at his GF. How he was drowning and screaming for his life. They didn't pay no attention to him either , I figured out. He said he had cramps so bad he could hardly move,,,and he really thought he was going to drown!!
A few minutes later ,,,,,here he was walking up onto beach just a swearing at his GF. How he was drowning and screaming for his life. They didn't pay no attention to him either , I figured out. He said he had cramps so bad he could hardly move,,,and he really thought he was going to drown!!
Thanks for sharing your experience, tmattei... I'm sure glad you made it back to shore. F*%k the gear and finds.. drop them and get to dry land! I love the suggestion that Bum Luck made of "bouncing off the bottom". I think I used to do that as a kid when venturing into "over the head" depths at the pool. It makes a lot of sense!