Swimmers on the Mulberry Trapped by High Water

[Paddlegal]

Cudos to these folks sticking it out instead of trying to get back to the bank. They were there 3 hours.

http://swtimes.com/news/article_10f6df3 ... 002e0.html

[Dave Thomas]

This brings a couple of things to mind. A BIG thanks to the firefighters and police on the scene. You guys do great work! The other thing is, where are their lifejackets? Personal flotation is just as important when swimming in undesignated swimming areas as it is when paddling. Be safe and paddle on.

[Paddlegal]

It is tragic and repeats over and over again. Folks getting in trouble by not wearing the right safety gear or none at all.

And yes, thanks to our rescue personnel. They thunk and thunk til they could get the folks off safely.

[Cowper]

I've got to cut them some slack on the PFD's. I don't think we can expect PFD's at the 'ole swimming hole in the dead of summer. I'm just glad everyone recognized when conditions had changed and took a conservative approach by knowing their limits, waiting it out and getting help. Most of those folks could have simply waded or swam to shore, but it would have still been a tragegy if even one hadn't made it.

For those who missed it, this was only one of the rescues that happened this week...

http://www.kmbc.com/news/24238808/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;