Not Recommended!

[rich]

This evening, being a high tide, I went down to run the engines on my boat in the local harbour. The harbour in St Aubin in Jersey, for those who've never been, is surrounded by pubs, restaurants, shops and houses, with a police station and the Parish Hall right opposite my mooring.
After running the engines (all OK) I climbed ashore across my friend's boat next to me, as his has a lower bow and is easier to get off, well usually! As I put my foot onto the wet granite slipway , I slipped the wrong way, banged my head on the slip, and ended up armpit deep in extremely cold sea. I watched as afull packet of cigarretes floated out of my pocket with the tide, and then clawed my way crab-like along the slip until I could climb out.
I then stumbled home, luckily only 200 yards away, trying to hold up my tracksuit bottoms which were extremely heavy and full of cold water, and straight indoors for a hot bath.
What made me think, however, was that not a single person saw me, or would have helped if I had knocked myself unconscious; my wife wasn't expecting me back at any particular time; the last time I fell overboard was 35 years ago, BUT it could happen to you anytime....would anyone see you if you fell in on a dark evening?
All's well however, and glad to be back on the forum after my computer got totally destroyed by the bad-trans bug and I had to get a new one.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Looks like like you got off lightly Rich. The bad-trans virus being the least of your problems.

I had never really thought about that sort of situation, but I will now you have raised my awareness to it. I once heard that more accidents and drownings happen as a result of people getting on or off their moorings than as a result of other boating activities. A lesson for us all.

Hope your heads OK now! Cheers.
DAVE

 

[byron]

Happened last week on the Hamble. 14 year old boy slipped off the pontoon, they are still looking for the poor kid's body.

ô¿ô

 

[lanason]

Your right most accidents happen close to home. Its the 15 minutes out and back that are the worst - We never put seatbelts on or lifejackets just to pop back.
An important message for us all.
Hope you get better soon
Adrian

 

[coliholic]

Yes it's a problem on the river too with the growth of the dreaded green algae all over the place in the winter. Bit of the River Wissey phenomenon. Went down to my boat on Sunday and the pontoon was very slippery. Partly I supoose because no-ones walking on it this time of year so the algae just gets worse. Last spring went out on the boat and pulled in to moor at one of the locks and as I stepped onto the pontoon, just slipped on the algae and in I went. Only about 5 feet deep but nevertheless a bit of a shock to the old ticker. Just makes you think what could have happened if you hit your head etc. I feel a bit of a wuss wearing a hard hat, safety boots, full harness and a lifejacket on the river though.

 

[ArthurWood]

Preferable to be a live wuss than a dead one, eh?

 

[rich]

wuss?????eh.

 

[claymore]

The holiday brochures all say how warm and sunny it is in Jersey, how come the water was cold - is there something going on that we should know about?

 

[tcm]

Re: wuss

Aussie term meaning not very macho, a bit of a wimp. Ahem, anyway that's twice colin has been in lasy year that we know of, so he shd be used to it.

Does anyone else leaving swim ladder down in marinas to help get out? Doesn't help if you've banged yer head o the way in tho....

 

[jfm]

Report from Jersey

Rich you're absolutely right. I'm in Jersey right now, L'Horizon room 252, and I didn't hear you fall in else I wd have offered to help. Seriously though, aren't marinas supposed to have lots of ladders installed so you can climb out? The UK ones all do.

Hope you got warmed up/dry asap

 

[tripleace]

with all that money in jersey, why don't they heat the water.

glad your ok.

Tripleace

www.cleverdic.co.uk

 

[david_e]

Similar thing happened to my nephew summer before last. He was 6 at the time and a little devil (still is!), he had this trick he saw on TV where he would hide inside his jumper and wander round until he thought someone was near and then push his head out shouting Boo! Well you've probably guessed it, he was doing it on the pontoons early one morning when he walked straight off the side. He was OK and started to tread water, his poor old mum hadn't heard anything but thought it was quiet, soon found him and with the kind of strength that only comes in these kind of situations hauled him out with one hand. Not funny for her but if you know the lad and the mischief he gets up to it has an amusing side when you picture it!

 

[Will_M]

A lady in our marina is prone to ‘sleep walking?’ , I don’t really know them so wont suggest this normally happens after an evening on the piss. Trouble is their boat has a nice transom door/opening onto the swim platform.

You’ve guessed it!!! Two occasions last season I know of she ended up in the drink, at least she wakes up pretty dam quick, and others with all the shouting that follows!

Makes me laugh every time, but could be very serious ….

 

[paulineb]

Before Chrispy tells you, I confess that last year I fell in followed by a guy on a bike. There had been a few celebratory drinks after the London-Brighton bike ride. It was very cold and very salty. We didn't get the bike back til the next low tide.

Pxx

 

[paulineb]

God, that is so tragic. His poor family must be going through hell. The trouble is, at 14 they think they're old enough not to wear lifejackets on the pontoon.

Pxx

 

[longjohnsilver]

No they don\'t!!

We certainly don't have these ladders in Exmouth. Have often wondered what heath and safety would say in event of an accident.

 

[tcm]

Re: No they don\'t!!

there's only a few here and there usually: much better to have swim ladder down imho...

 

[byron]

The kid wasn't a Yottie Pauline, he was a 'local' who had gone to the marina night fishing. He was also a good swimmer. He wasn't alone either, its just that his pals had packed up and gone home and he had gone to the pontoon to pack his stuff up and follow them. So when he slipped and fell in, no one saw him go.

ô¿ô

 

[markc]

He was night fishing by himself on a pontoon, no lifejacket. Very sad

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: No they don\'t!!

Agreed, can actually climb up mine even when it's not down, but could be a problem fully clothed.

What's happened to your cat?