[unaluna]

SORRY! I know everybody else just STARTS A NEW THREAD when they have something new to say! Not me, I'm an idiot. I'm a hijacker and a thread-killer. I bury my stuff at the end of a long thread, then wonder why I only get a few comments. I almost drowned! this is my last try at asking for help in an appropriate way.

here is the story of what happened yesterday. I apologize to people who have already read and commented - I DO value your comments. maybe I received hug buttons, but I can't see them on my phone. if this is a dumb story, i'd like to hear that too - supportively, of course!
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i'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened, there was some language and or cultural issue going on. I was in my apartment pool in the far deep end, and at first this young couple were swimming together in the shallow end. then they moved to the deep end also, and it looked like they were dunking each other, but the girl was holding onto the side of the pool, and the guy started moving towards the center of the pool, then he started sinking.

I asked the girl if he needed help, she said yes. I grabbed his hand, he jumped on me, then started pushing me under. i'm trying to get to the side of the pool, another woman jumps in, I go under again and i'm thinking, "is this how it ends, really? no, this is NOT how it ends! it's you or me, buddy, and I can't save you if I drown too" and I break free of him, and at that point, the other woman told me later, she had also been trying to break his hold on me, and so she pulled him to the edge, and then I was okay.

but it was a freakin cl0se call. eerie to see him floating under water like that. then when he rushed up, it was just like in the movies. and i'm also thinking, as i'm going under, "oh yeah, so THIS is why they say don't try a water rescue if you don't know what you're doing, cos you'll both drown."

you're supposed to pin the person's arm behind him so he can't fight you, now I know. i'll have to practice on T tomorrow. maybe now he'll agree to be my swim coach.
I am oddly calm, I don't know if it's meds or if i'm just weird. Friday morning update - I think i'm starting to get a little freaked out by it. delayed reaction.

thanks if you read this far.

Hankster!! I'm glad you're okay. Sounds like you stayed so calm and brave! I got panicky feelings just reading this, I'm not good in the water, I like my feet to reach the bottom.

[WikidPissah]

YIKES! I would be so frazzled! I rescued a 10 yr. old once at the pool I use, and she clawed me up good...I was bloody by the time I got her out. She was light enough where she didn't pull me under though. Why the heck were they in the deep end if they couldn't swim...how dumb is that?

Make sure you get back in the water quickly enough, it's important to rebuild that feeling of being safe in the water.

Sounds frightening.

[unaluna]

I think she could swim, but he couldn't, so when she moved to the deep end, he followed her, but then once he moved away from the side of the pool, he got in trouble, but I think she didn't realize he was in trouble. The other woman and I both thought they were laughing and dunking (altho we did not approve of their behavior) and then he started sinking. honest, so much of it was just like in the movies. i'm glad he wasn't that big either! the other rescue woman was wearing a bikini and had these great muscular rounded thighs and long curly dark hair - she was truly a goddess! a mermaid! a med student, actually, and told me what to watch out for afterwards, in terms of my lungs.

hankster, you are NOT an idiot! You are SO brave! I'm so impressed with you. It's completely natural to have that delayed reaction. I'm so glad it worked out well.

[Snuffleupagus]

Props to the h for realizing she is important enough to start her own thread! And I am so glad you are safe and alive, so we can continue to benefit from your you-ness.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

I rescued a 10 yr. old once at the pool I use, and she clawed me up good...I was bloody by the time I got her out. She was light enough where she didn't pull me under though.

Thanks, wiki, this helps solidify my experience. I can picture your girl, it makes my guy more real.

[lostmyway21]

I'm so glad your okay!!! I almost drowned and had to be rescued when I was 12, (for some unknown reason I jumped off the high dive without knowing how to swim) it definitly is a scary experience. Something I'll never forgot. I hope you feel better, the delayed reaction is definitly normal.

[sconnie892]

Hankster - Good for you for taking action and helping someone out!

I think I would be freaked out at this point too and I was a lifeguard for many years and preformed several rescues.

The feeling of drowning is terrifying. We used to play a very dangerous game after-hours at the pool where I worked. One time I was held under too long and came up gasping for air and very tingly. I've never forgot that feeling and it still scares the heck out of me today. It did however make me understand what a drowning person feels.

But I agree with Wiki - don't let it keep you out of the water. Check around the pool to make sure they have some sort of rescue equipment - a shepherd's hook (long pole) or a life ring or even a rope. That way you know there are tools you can throw to the person to help them out. We always taught our swimming lesson kids "throw don't go" to help out a friend in the pool. Hopefully you are never put in that situation again.

I think you are very brave for helping this person out. Not everyone would have acted in time.

[sconnie892]

I also meant to add that I always had delayed reactions after rescuing people at our pool. I would be fine until the next day. Then the reality of what had occurred hit me.

[WikidPissah]

Originally Posted by sconnie892

"throw don't go"

never heard this before, but you can bet I am going to look for this equipment next time I go to the pool.

[sconnie892]

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

never heard this before, but you can bet I am going to look for this equipment next time I go to the pool.

Or those foam noodle things. They work great for helping someone even though they aren't really a rescue tool.

[SpiritRunner]

I am not a great swimmer, although I do fine in a pool, but the deeper the water, the freakier a feeling I have about swimming in it; I have to NOT think about how much water is under me. I have been the one struggling in deep water and it is scary.....
I don't know how well I'd do at all or if I'd try to jump in in the same situation as you saw ...... So when someone is just brave enough to jump in and try to help someone struggling in the water, I admire that greatly. That was quite an experience for you!
Sometimes after a frightening experience, I have had a sense of odd, eerie calm fall over me, too .... it might be a bit of shock or emotional insulation or something like that.

[eskielover]

I'm good in water as long as my legs reach the bottom.....so deep doesn't do it for me.......As I was reading through your initial post....my thoughts were (before I got to where you wrote it)....you don't try to rescue someone swimming unless you really know what you're doing....but know it's hard because you wouldn't just be there & watch them drown either......but if you plan on doing this often would really suggest life guard lessons in your future.

Glad your dark haired angel like med student was there to help....it is better when there are 2 with a big guy.

I don't know, but if your like me.....my logical mind is the one that processes things like that when they happen (I don't jump right into my emotional mind.....it just sits there waiting for me to ok it's action).....so my processing time on things like that isn't immediate either......I usually don't fully understand going through a horrible situation until awhile after it's happened......maybe your mind works more like mine which is why it's taking you awhile to feel that O WOW......that really happened sort of feelng.

You did good.....& you did the best you could to given situation & training......good to recognize a close call.....giving you 's to calm down those nerves that are just now hitting you.

[stopdog]

Hankster - I think the delayed reaction you are having is quite normal. At the time, you did what you needed to do (and were quite brave) - after the fact your body and mind have the luxury of responding to the peril you were in.

[WePow]

wow! I am so glad you are ok! Yes, a person drowning latches onto the person trying to help them. We learned about that in swimming class in college. It is a natural reflex. Both people sometimes drown when that happens due to the panic. I am glad you are ok!

[lynn P.]

(((Hankster)) - this was an incredibly stressful event and you have full right to be shaken up for sure. I've had a couple stressful events that left me shaking and upset for days....and yes there's definitely a delayed reaction sometimes. First of all, its was so kind of you to try and help....not many people can do this. True it can be very risky, because the drowning person panics...resulting in the rescuer being overpowered.

First of all...if the dude can't swim...he shouldn't be in a pool without a life guard or go in the deep end. I also hate when anyone plays that stupid dunking game - what if the person isn't ready and gets dunked when they don't have air?? Did you inhale any water?? Reason I ask is - there's such a thing called 'dry drowning' - where the person inhaled a little water/liquid and the lungs get a delayed reaction. Is there a life preserver thing on the wall of that apartment pool? If not there should be.

Thank God the other lady helped you and I'm happy you're okay. Its very normal to be very shaken by this experience - he could have killed you. Take it easy and good for you in trying to save a life.

[SoupDragon]

Glad you are here to keep posting. Sounds really normal to be freaked by this. Wonder how you are feeling today?

Hankster!! That is really scary! I'm glad you are okay. ((hugs))

[purple_fins]

I'm glad you are OK.
Yea, I wouldn't recommend anyone doing what you did There should have been some kind of pole or floating device around the pool-- it's a law, I believe. Please use something like that if there is a next time. I always survey the pool area before I use a pool, for such items to help in case of an emergency like that.
I used to be a lifeguard as a teen ..... one day....out riding on a bike path.... a very large woman went into the swollen rapid flowing river, drunk and partying with her friends... they started yelling .... knowing the dangers of the river-- I didn't go in it.(not to mention I weighed 102 lbs soaking wet) Her image still haunts me almost 30 years later. the guilt of not saving her.... I'm so glad you don't have to live with such guilt

good going but- remember to keep safer!

fins

Hankster... from a non-swimmer perspective...I thank you for taking action to save a fellow non swimmer... (although I'm so afraid I stay clear of deep ends or any pool without a life guard)...

You are one of those wonderful people who can keep it all together when you are under pressure...but of course once the pressure is gone..you feel all the emotions later which is perfectly normal...

Maybe if you swim a lot and especially if you are doing it for excercise you might want to take a life saving class... my nephew said training to be a life guard has been the most rewarding excercise program he has ever done... and you are not too old! (in case you were thinking that) My 9 year olds swim coach is older than you...

I think the suggestion of getting in the water soon is a good one. If I was the one that almost drown... I'm not sure I would even be able to take a bath again...

[skysblue]

Hankster - you are a hero. You forgot about your own safety and your instinct was to help a complete stranger. You are awesome!

I'm sure you'll be experiencing some emotional fallout from this for awhile. Your experience was traumatic and it may take some time to process it. Be gentle with yourself, ok? (((((hugs)))))

[unaluna]

thanks you guys, this is helping so much! yeah, I didn't jump in - I NEVER jump in - i always wade in very slowly from the shallow end! but here he was like right next to me, I was already in the water, and I just thought, I better take his hand now before he sinks any deeper and I won't be able to reach him, cos I don't go under water, i'm very bubbly! except apparently when a skinny bag of bones is jumping on me.

yes, the med student absolutely was my angel! you know that picture of the two baby cherubs, the blond and the brunet with the chubby cheeks and legs and pouty red lips? My angel was the brunette, all grown up and gilded bikini top! just what you expect an angel to look like! and smart to boot! of course, she's MY angel!

T was great this morning. he showed me what I should have done (T used to be a lifeguard). I told T good thing we have been hugging all this time, the guy jumping on me did not bother me at all! He was about T's height (5'7"?) but thin; T is built.

Thanks, lynn, I read about that - I am coughing a little today, so I am going to take a diuretic and be attentive, and not go back in until I am feeling more clear headed. Also I have an appointment with my internist next week. T said I would have noticed if I had aspirated, I don't think I did.

I am a little worried about what ELSE is going to happen now. my bus almost got hit by a car on the way to T. I misread the clock and was late to T, he had to call me and ask where I was (starbucks - stupid!). I felt I was having a hard time in the market afterwards making decisions, so I just bought some Lean Cuisines and left - none of this is like me at all. It's like my choice is to do what my mother says or cease to exist. T said he realizes that's what this pool incident seems like, but, he said, you did something.

yeah, like the movie said, THIS fat old white girl does not jump in the pool! and there IS a pole and a lifesaver ring on a rope. that guy was lucky us two women were there, cos his girlfriend was worse than worthless. I couldn't believe she kept swimming IN THE DEEP END after the incident. T asked if the guy had thanked me; he had.

again, thanks, everybody. so much GREAT info from you all, and wonderful, wonderful support - I am so touched! - and hearing how you also had delayed reactions, really helps.

[rainbow8]

WOW, hankster!! I didn't see where you posted this the first time, and am just reading it now. I think you were very brave to try to save that guy!! I also agree that you can have delayed reactions which could explain the way you're behaving, and the coughing.

T was a lifeguard and showed you what you should have done? That's cool! I used to live in a complex with a pool and I know they had a pole and life preserver. I remember them from high school too, but I probably would have panicked and not used them. We always had a lifeguard around but with a crowded pool and a lot of kids, I wondered how effective that would be.

I love to swim but in recent years I sometimes get a cramp in my foot, which is very scary if you're in the deep water so I don't go over my head too much anymore.

I'm glad you're seeing your doctor so you can be sure you're all right.