My worst nightmare happened......

[nicho]

Rather late to say it but if anybody bangs their head and is unconscious for more than 3 minutes it's a 999 call!

In the circumstances IMHO it would have been wise anyway.

Understood Vic, but she was only out of it for a few seconds - I think the shock of the cold water brought her around. She is OK now, but we are seeing the GP this afternoon, just to be sure.

No excuse re 999, but a few years ago, again in Yarmouth(!!) on a friday evening, I slipped on a salt covered GRP deck and cut my knee badly. We took a taxi to Newport General A & E, where I waited for 5 hours for it to be stitched up, surrounded by Friday night drunks and stab victims - we got back to the boat at 04.00. Wrong thinking I know, but it kind of makes you reluctant to go through that when she seemed shocked, but OK at the time.

It has not put her off boating at all, and she cannot wait for our trip to Dartmouth, planned for next week (subject to weather of course).

 

[nicho]

Just back from the GP - she is suffering from concussion. We should have consulted a doctor sooner I guess, another lesson learned.

He prescribed rest and paracetamol, so hopefully her recovery will continue. We really appreciate all your comments and advice - many thanks.

 

[mjf]

Good lord - its you then.

Swmbo told me the story and we latter discussed it in person as I ambled down the pontoon on Saturday.

Hope your wife is feeling better now Nico and the terrible bruising clearing up too.

 

[island163]

Sorry to hear about you accident and glad to hear it had a happy ending. When my wife and I went on the RYA Sea Survival course we were told that an MOB should be an automatic Mayday even if the casualty is quickly recovered. The reason for this, we were told, is the risk of secondary drowning. In some people even a small amount of sea water in the lungs can trigger inflammation which introduces more fluid in to the lungs and it's this that drowns you.

 

[nicho]

Good lord - its you then.

Good Lord It's YOU MJF!!!

It's amazing isn't it? We really should all fly the Forum Burgee!

Marie's much better today, though as you can see from the above, she is suffering from concussion. Should be cleared in two or three days accoring to our GP.

Thanks for the thoughts - we'll be down Sturday, and are planning a West Country cruise as soon as weather suits (Pity it's not this week, but a family wedding is getting in the way!)

Cheers,

Mike & Marie N

 

[kcrane]

Glad she is OK

Glad SWMBO is OK. I remember she said she wasn't happy being close to the water.

Bet you are glad of that hi-lo platform now. I've wondered how we would do it if we had to, and I don't have an easy answer, which remains a worry. I may rig up a set of pulleys, rope and harness as a handy billy to keep with the grab bag. The sunbed has a reasonable grab rail at the stern that could act as an anchor point to clip it onto.

Wish her well from SWMBO and me.

 

[nicho]

Thanks Kevin - a transom ladder can be used, I guess, if the "casualty" is conscious enough to climb up it with assistance. The problem starts when they are semi, or unconscious and unable to help themselves. The "hilo" was a great help here, but I still needed help to hold onto her whilst I went into the cabin to find and switch on the master!

Nothing's easy in these circumstances. It's good to think these things through in advance, and whether it was some kind of premonition I don't know, but I was only thinking through that proceedure a few days beforehand. I'll leave the master on when on board in future, the actual control switch being easily reachable on the transom.

 

[contessa26]

Glad she is ok

So glad to hear that SWMBO is 'ok'.
Well done for catching her.
There for the Grace of God go I.
Many thanks for recounting your story, because even the most experienced of us, are all learning, all the time.
Best wishes.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Sorry to hear about the accident, but glad to hear your beloved is going to be ok. Thanks for sharing this. We never know what's around the next corner in life!

 

[CX54WEK]

Sorry to here about this accident. One of the first things we did when we bought Naughty-Cal was to sort out how we would get one another out of the water should one of us fall in.

Luckily only the Oh has been dunked so far. By far the most scary accident happened on the river in a lock at Bardney. We had set off back from Dog Dyke in the dark as we had friends meeting us early the next morning at our home mooring quite a distance away. All had gone fine until we entered the lock. The OH,as usual drove the boat in and roped her up whilst i shut the lock gates behind and proceeded to open the paddles of the top gates.

After ten minutes it became apparent something was amiss, the water level wasnt rising, so i shouted the OH to come and help. He reached out to pull a rope, missed it and went straight into the lock (which it transpired had both sets of paddles open, whoever had come through the lock last had left the paddles up on the bottom gates!!) So with water gushing through the open paddles, the boat drifting out into the middle of the lock and the OH clinging to a fender i did the only thing that came to mind launched myself onto the cabing roof and clambered around the boat to drop the bathing ladder!! Shutting the paddles hadnt crossed my mind just yet.

So a very soggy and cold OH scrambled up the ladder expecting to walk straight into the cabin. No chance. Strip!!! So at gone midnight on a cold april evening the poo OH strips naked on the bathing platform before rinsing off with the transom shower and finally heading below for a warm shower and a hot cup of soup.

Lesson learned, always check the gate paddles on locks

 

[nicho]

Sorry to here about this accident. One of the first things we did when we bought Naughty-Cal was to sort out how we would get one another out of the water should one of us fall in.

Luckily only the Oh has been dunked so far. By far the most scary accident happened on the river in a lock at Bardney. We had set off back from Dog Dyke in the dark as we had friends meeting us early the next morning at our home mooring quite a distance away. All had gone fine until we entered the lock. The OH,as usual drove the boat in and roped her up whilst i shut the lock gates behind and proceeded to open the paddles of the top gates.

After ten minutes it became apparent something was amiss, the water level wasnt rising, so i shouted the OH to come and help. He reached out to pull a rope, missed it and went straight into the lock (which it transpired had both sets of paddles open, whoever had come through the lock last had left the paddles up on the bottom gates!!) So with water gushing through the open paddles, the boat drifting out into the middle of the lock and the OH clinging to a fender i did the only thing that came to mind launched myself onto the cabing roof and clambered around the boat to drop the bathing ladder!! Shutting the paddles hadnt crossed my mind just yet.

So a very soggy and cold OH scrambled up the ladder expecting to walk straight into the cabin. No chance. Strip!!! So at gone midnight on a cold april evening the poo OH strips naked on the bathing platform before rinsing off with the transom shower and finally heading below for a warm shower and a hot cup of soup.

Lesson learned, always check the gate paddles on locks

Nasty! I bet it was just like a dream at the time - you just cannot believe it is happening!! I think you handled it well - it's surprising how we rise to the challenge when this sort of thing happens - scary stuff though.

 

[RogerRat]

Wow, it just brings it home how quickly things can go wrong from the most harmless of situations.

Really glad she's ok Mike!

I was in Poole 2 years ago when that sailing skipper fell of the quay and even though we were right there, we had trouble seeing him. Retrieval of anyone unconsious is very difficult too.

I would be interested in hearing the outcome of your safety in harbour review. Do you think the steps and the hi-lo swim platform may have been a contributor?

They're not exactly slippery surfaces though..

 

[Jane Farraday]

I'm so sorry your wife had such a nasty experience. I really felt upset for her, and you, reading your post. Bless you both xx.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Really sorry to hear about this, it does bring it home how quickly things can go wrong, but you did all the right things, didn't panic and got help. Hope you can both get back into enjoying the boat again and the concussion eases (I've had a few and they can be a right sod) soon.

 

[nicho]

I would be interested in hearing the outcome of your safety in harbour review. Do you think the steps and the hi-lo swim platform may have been a contributor?

They're not exactly slippery surfaces though..

Hi Roger, thanks for your thoughts.

The S48 hilo platform may have been a bit of a double edged sword. Unlike most transoms it consists of three steps down to the water rather than the flat variety. She may well have just fallen and stayed on the platform in the latter case. There are plenty of handrails on the transom to hold onto.

As it was, it was a bit like falling downstairs - once you start, it's difficult to stop. Bear in mind though, she had hit her head on a grab handle on the transom, and was rendered unconscious before hitting the platform, so she may well have continued down into the water regardless of the type of platform. We have put her initial fall foreward down to a loss of balance due to an inner ear problem rather than slipping - the platform steps are covered in artificial teak, and are pretty grippy, even to bare feet.

Without doubt, the hilo was excellent for retrieving her with relatively little effort. Once it was submerged, we simply rolled her onto it, prressed the button, and up she came!

She feels much better today, so expect her to be 100% by the end of the week. It was pretty traumatic for her, especially as she has a water phobia. It's not put her off boating though.

Our new golden rules over and above our normal safety proceedures are that:

1. Nobody ventures onto the platform when under way to attach lines/fenders etc even if clipped on. This will all be done from the security of the cockpit, by unzipping the canopy sidepanels if they have not been removed. For going forward, the S48 has a very useful cockpit side door, to save having to scramble up the sides from the stern to go to the foredeck.

2. Nobody will go out onto the platform when alone even in harbour/marina especially at night.

3. We have placed safety items, life throws, boathook etc much more to hand in the cockpit, for quick retrieval in an emergency.

4. The hilo platform master switch will be left on at all times we are aboard.

Amny other suggestions would be welcome.

 

[nicho]

Really sorry to hear about this, it does bring it home how quickly things can go wrong, but you did all the right things, didn't panic and got help. Hope you can both get back into enjoying the boat again and the concussion eases (I've had a few and they can be a right sod) soon.

I learned how to suppress panic during the many accidents in my rallying career - I'm sure you know what I mean!!

 

[CX54WEK]

Nasty! I bet it was just like a dream at the time - you just cannot believe it is happening!! I think you handled it well - it's surprising how we rise to the challenge when this sort of thing happens - scary stuff though.

It only occured afterwards that if i had not landed on the cabin roof we would have both been in the water!!!!