Two drowned at Penton Hook

Very sad in every way.

Obviously decent blokes who were trying to do what they considered the best thing, and not many would argue with that.

I have been known to jump in and scrub my waterline in April, and it sure is cold, I had seriously had enough after less than five minutes, and I had a rubbing strip to hang on to.

Even on a hot summers day it's very cold, so I understand why it's not a good thing to jump in in cold weather!
 
We had a guy fall in outside the lock last march , a fairly well built , normal guy ... the boat he was on clipped a pontoon opposite the lock while turning , pitched him over the bow into the drink.

He grabbed the pontoons on the other side , and was holding onto a cleat. I was shouting to him the whole time to hold on , don't let go , over and over . he was shouting back that he couldn't ....

He couldn't lift himself out , and within 3 minutes was losing his grip , unable to hold on he was so cold . Luckily it was right outside the lifeboat station . I phoned the LOM direct rather than waste time going through london coastguard , and they all came running. They came down and got him out. He left the pontoon on a stretcher , and off to hospital with hypothermia. After 3 minutes.

I do appreciate where you are coming from , everyone loves the doggies. But think how your family will feel when you don't come home ( but Fido does , because they always get out and don't feel the cold ) ....
 
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Teddington Lock... I understand where you are coming from but Fido IS family for many of us.

I have worked in a couple of 'rescue' roles and appreciate the risk. It would be a calculated one but one I would take without hesitation.

Wrong in your mind but Right in mine.

W.
 
It seems then, there are two perfectly good sides here.

The 'I would' Dog owners, and the 'I wouldn't' Dog/ Non Dog owners.

I respect both sides!
 
I would without hesitation jump in to save a dog or another human being. However as I have spent a few years living in Canada my body is used to dealing with extreme cold and frigid water. It takes a lot of training to be able to control you breathing in near freezing water.

However Teddington is right with the cold aspect unfortunately if you are not used to very cold water you body does one of two things it either goes straight into cardiac arrest or if you head goes under you will gasp with the cold take a lung full of water an usually black out. This is what I was told when I did my artic survival training. While I appreciate the Thames is not Artic UK waters in the winter are not far off.

The key thing to remember is not to panic and relax as best you can.
 
No Regrets said:
It seems then, there are two perfectly good sides here.

The 'I would' Dog owners, and the 'I wouldn't' Dog/ Non Dog owners.

I respect both sides!
Click to expand...

Well you can hardly call me a non-dog owner. I've had as many as four at any one time. Even the local Farm's working Collie decided to give up work and moved in with us. Ashmount has always welcomed boats with dogs and puts no restrictions on them.
Having said all that I know a Dog is more likely to survive than a human for one reason they stand up which gives them buoyancy whereas a human stands up and sinks. Consequently I wouldn't jump in I would call the dog, any dog will always head towards a target, you make yourself the target.
 
A guy came into the office this week. He moved his boat with the anchor down and got it tangled round his prop. When he came into the office he was pretty blue and shivering uncontrolably. He had stripped down to his shorts and dived in to remove the anchor. He got out, had no towel and put his clothes back on. This was the day when I drove to work and it was -1!

I was suppose to see him today but no sign as yet, it wouldn't surprise me if he is in trouble with his health now.

Byron is absolutely right with making a target. My parents German Shepherd came to our house (on the river) for the first time in October 2 years ago. She saw the ducks and chased them without stopping at the water. She was only a few months old and all we did was call her in the most exciting voice possible. She came back eventually through quite a stream and has never gone so close to the edge again.

I understand the lads were just boys and probably didn't realise the danger of the river. My primary school was within walking distance of Shepperton Lock, we had many a trip to learn the workings of the lock and the water (very exciting for me and the lock keepers son who was in my class) - not sure if it is common teachings in other schools but maybe it should be at least on schools near water!

My thoughts are with the family.
 
what do you reckon the family will do with the dog that caused the problem in the first place ?

I know it's the least of their troubles at present, but I've always wondered how I would feel if my daughter fell of her horse and was killed or badly injured.
 
One would probably sell/ rehome the Dog unless one wanted to keep it for one's self...

One wouldn't 'take it t'Vets' if thats what you thought!
 
sarabande said:
what do you reckon the family will do with the dog that caused the problem in the first place ?
Click to expand...

Problem with a 'look how hard I am' type dog for that is what it is. Few people other than yobbos would want it and animal charities are very wary about whom they let their dogs go to. Quite rightly so in my opinion.
 
Shame is, a lot are very nice Dogs.

I don't like Staffies, nor most of the owners upon saying that, but in the old days people called Alsatians 'Devil Dogs' and most of them are lovely creatures!
 
Staffies are usually great with people unless brought up otherwise, problem is they have a tendency to launch an attack on other dogs on sight. Of course there are exceptions to the rule and I am generalising.
 
Seeing this thread reminded me of my youth when I rowed at Staines Boat Club. Years before one of their crews (can't remmeber whether it was an 8 or a 4) got washed onto the weir in the winter spate while turning and I think all but the cox drowned.

When I was at SBC there was a rule that no boat was to be taken around the corner after"silvery sands".

:(
 
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