How the hell do four people drown in a water garden?

No Man · June 18th, 2004, 10:23 AM

Any of you Fort Worth natives figured out how those four people drown in a water garden that has been there for thirty years without incident? City taxes probably going up after they pay this one off. [img]/images/graemlins/sad[/img]

City · June 18th, 2004, 10:26 AM

Apparently, the water intake was so powerful that they got pulled under. Seems a bit odd to me too.

**Hog Whisperer** · June 18th, 2004, 10:28 AM

I wondered the same thing yesterday when I saw the story. I figured they got caught on drains. The vacuum on those things is damned scary. If it wasn't that, I can't imagine what else it could be.

par · June 18th, 2004, 10:35 AM

That's what they reported in my local paper. The power from the drains was sucking so hard that they couldn't break free from them.

No Man · June 18th, 2004, 10:42 AM

Seems to me that if you have that kind of suction from a drain it would be a no brainer to have a grate a couple feet below the water line to prevent anyone or anything from getting sucked in. Something doesn't sound right at this point. If they indeed had a nine foot deep pool of water with huge suction at the bottom and no rails around it, there's gonna be a very rich widow. I don't think we are getting the whole story.

RedFive · June 18th, 2004, 11:22 AM

Just another fine reason not to ride a stand up jet ski through the locks.

**Lawboy** · June 18th, 2004, 12:02 PM

from what i have heard, it had nothing to do with the drains. three of the people who died were children. one adult male. all from a black church group touring the water gardens. two small children fell in. didnt know how to swim. a slightly older child jumped in to save them but was pulled under by the other two children. the adult male jumped in to try to save all three but he wasnt a good swimmer. he was pulled under by the kids. very tragic situation.

its a good lesson to learn about how important it is to know how to swim. i have no doubt that had there been good swimmers present they would have been able to rescue all three of those kids without incident. the watergardens are closed now pending a safety review.

BigCarrot · June 18th, 2004, 12:27 PM

I hate to sound racist, but they were black. They can't swim. My roommate in college was born and raised next to a lake, went fishing all the time, but he couldn't swim at ALL! He said that nobody in his family really knew how to swim. He said it was a black thing, and that I wouldn't understand. [img]/images/graemlins/confused[/img]

Jamal Austin · June 18th, 2004, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

I hate to sound racist, but they were black. They can't swim. My roommate in college was born and raised next to a lake, went fishing all the time, but he couldn't swim at ALL! He said that nobody in his family really knew how to swim. He said it was a black thing, and that I wouldn't understand. [img]/images/graemlins/confused[/img]

I didn't learn to swim until college, and I still rarely get in water.

RedFive · June 18th, 2004, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawboy

from what i have heard, it had nothing to do with the drains. three of the people who died were children. one adult male. all from a black church group touring the water gardens. two small children fell in. didnt know how to swim. a slightly older child jumped in to save them but was pulled under by the other two children. the adult male jumped in to try to save all three but he wasnt a good swimmer. he was pulled under by the kids. very tragic situation.

its a good lesson to learn about how important it is to know how to swim. i have no doubt that had there been good swimmers present they would have been able to rescue all three of those kids without incident. the watergardens are closed now pending a safety review.

This is sooooooo true.

A sim instance happened in my own family.

My uncle had his boat out on the river for Thunder. High currents, cold water, night time etc...
My aunt fell off the damned boat. And she can't swim. Her son, my cousin, sees mom in the water and immediately jumps in to save her.

Problem... jon can't swim.

Now there are two in the water. Then a third non-swimmer jumps to give aid. [img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]

People that can't swim jump in the water to "help" people drowning all the time.

Jamal Austin · June 18th, 2004, 12:31 PM

I think it's instinct. And the fact that it would look bad if the report said that they sat there and watched their family die.

**Jeff M** · June 18th, 2004, 12:35 PM

Tragic indeed. Too bad the park is gonna have to defend itself out the wazoo once the widow sues!

NOITALL · June 18th, 2004, 12:47 PM

I don't remember not knowing how to swim.

ViperDaveUK · June 18th, 2004, 12:48 PM

If I remember right from my life saving courses many years ago the last thing you want to be doing when someone is drowning is jump in after them. Throw them a rope, jumper, pants anything that they can grab and you pull them back, only get wet as an absolute last resort i.e. if they are unconscious and cant pull you under as well. Even for a strong swimmer a drowning person will more likely drown you as well through panic than calmly be rescued.

A sad story none the less.