Staying Calm Saved My Life

[american spirit]

glad you are okay. probably a good time now to plug any bags with clips that secure the flap, like the aquaskins bags. i can't see any wave squeezing a clip off. hopefully you got one now for the next wetsuitn trip.

scary story though. again glad you're alright.

[Pete_G]

Reminds me of my "one hook in the bicep, the other in a 28" bass" incident...

Glad you were able to stay focused and get through the situation.

I also agree with Rockfish - it seems most eventually have some sort of incident, no matter how safe they are, and sharing stories like this does help others avoid potential situations or get through one should the occasion arise.

[striper50trout]

Scary story Chef. Glad you are ok.

I was washed off the rocks by a rogue wave at Hazard last year. I was wearing waders and had a plug bag on my belt. I had to ditch the bag and belt. My waders filled up in seconds. My buddy also was washed off trying to grab me. Luckily there was a guy there who called 911.

My buddy panicked and tired within minutes of falling in. I stayed calm and swam to him to keep him up. About ten minutes went by before the firefighters arrived and threw out a life ring. I grabbed it and swam to my friend who was barely able to stay afloat. I hung onto him and the ring until the rescue boat arrived about a half hour later.

If I panicked we would both probably would have drowned.

The next morning I wanted to shake off the whole incident and went out with my back up rod and reel, because I lost my other set up when I was washed off. First cast that morning my rod snapped in half. I hope someone was not trying to tell me something.