Very sad Mayday off Yarmouth

[BlueSkyNick]

Tinkering on the boat this evening, happened to have VHF on 16 when a Mayday kicked off. A Folkboat racing in the western Solent had a crew member collapsed in the cockpit. CG asked if still conscious and breathing - 30 seconds of silence then a response of negative on both counts.

A Laser dinghy racer had come alongside and started CPR. Lifeboat arrived within 10minutes, put a crew member on board and towed the casualty boat into Yarmouth to meet an ambulance. CPR continued at all times. LB reported to CG that all other crew members were distressed.

Sat on the boat with mixed emotions - helpless from 2 miles away; hope that doesnt happen to anybody on my boat; would my First Aid training be effective; a quick passing doing something he enjoyed.

Whilst hoping for the best, as was the case of the Bolton footballer, I fear the worst. CPR is successful in only a small number of cases.

UPDATED AT 2330: as feared.

 

[Judders]

Of course it is terribly sad, and not knowing the circumstances, I wont comment further on the specific incident, beyond saying that if I was to be given the opportunity to choose the manner of my passing, going suddenly and painlessly whilst racing a Folkboat on a beautiful evening in a close fleet might well be high on the list; though that is a somewhat selfish attitude given the inconvenience to my crew, the fleet, the lifeboat etc.

Of course such whmsy does not stop me hoping that in this case the casualty was saved and recovers to sail again.

 

[OGITD]

+1

Of course it is terribly sad, and not knowing the circumstances, I wont comment further on the specific incident, beyond saying that if I was to be given the opportunity to choose the manner of my passing, going suddenly and painlessly whilst racing a Folkboat on a beautiful evening in a close fleet might well be high on the list; though that is a somewhat selfish attitude given the inconvenience to my crew, the fleet, the lifeboat etc.

Of course such whmsy does not stop me hoping that in this case the casualty was saved and recovers to sail again.

But when I'm 104!

 

[LadyInBed]

We all have to go at some time, it would be nice if I was doing something enjoyable. Not so pleasant for those around me.

 

[Hull Down]

Whilst hoping for the best... I fear the worst.

Alas, it seems your fears are justified:
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/man-dies-after-collapsing-on-boat-44406.aspx

 

[sailorman]

We all have to go at some time, it would be nice if I was doing something enjoyable. Not so pleasant for those around me.

+1

But why do they have to say this
A police spokesman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
WHY

 

[jonjo]

But why do they have to say this
A police spokesman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
WHY

WHY DO YOU ASK???

Do you expect the police to arrest all friends and relatives of a deceased person until there is compelling evidence of no foul play?

 

[prv]

WHY DO YOU ASK???

Do you expect the police to arrest all friends and relatives of a deceased person until there is compelling evidence of no foul play?

I suspect rather the opposite - as in, "why do they have to get involved and make references (even negative ones) to foul play at all?"

That's how I read it, anyway.

Pete

 

[DJE]

Sounds to me like their marine unit was tasked to assist with first aid. Maybe a journalist asked the question.

 

[DownWest]

In these sort of circumstances I would expect (hope) the plod to make no comment either way.

Not a bad way, if one has to go.

 

[sailorman]

I suspect rather the opposite - as in, "why do they have to get involved and make references (even negative ones) to foul play at all?"

That's how I read it, anyway.

Pete

me 2

 

[penfold]

I suspect rather the opposite - as in, "why do they have to get involved and make references (even negative ones) to foul play at all?"

That's how I read it, anyway.

Pete

The dull answer is that it's the law; if you were allowed to tidy up after one of your crew shuffles off this mortal coil, wrap them in a sail and consign them to davy jones murder would be a lot easier. As for the police spokesman, he's just giving a bland answer to a question that journalists have to ask lest their editors fire them.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I suspect it's a bland (to them) phrase that fuzz trot out without even thinking about, when asked if it was 'natural death'. Regard it as police jargon.

 

[prv]

me 2

?

Of course you too, it was your comment I was explaining

Pete

 

[l'escargot]

I suspect rather the opposite - as in, "why do they have to get involved and make references (even negative ones) to foul play at all?"

That's how I read it, anyway.

Pete

They don't make any reference to foul play, they just say "no supicious circumstances" to suggest accident or natural causes which can only be confirmed by a pathologist or a coroner.

 

[Seajet]

In an effort to lighten the mood; I've done 2 First Aid courses at my sailing club - interesting that the ideas for CPR keep changing, since then they seem to have given up on mouth to mouth.

We were told on the last course that Boots sold the hygenic breathing jobs which paramedics use; when I enquired, the young lady chemist looked at me as if I'd asked for a Martian Space Hook...

During the last course the nurse asked for a volunteer to demonstrate CPR and mouth to mouth; the prettiest girl in the club volunteered as a subject, then there was a stampede before I was even out of my seat !

 

[DJE]

We all have to go at some time, it would be nice if I was doing something enjoyable. Not so pleasant for those around me.

Similar type of thing happened to the grandfather of our club a few years ago. Arrived in the bar his normal smiley self, wished everybody good evening, ordered a pint, and collpsed on the floor. Only sad that he didn't get a sip on his beer before he went.

CPR didn't work for him either.

 

[Seajet]

Out of the several Maydays I've heard on the VHF related to divers ( seems a dodgy hobby, a colleague very nearly died when the depth / time tables were wrong ) one off Poole stands out;

Coastguard: 'What are the symptoms ?'

Dive boat: ' No symptoms at all...'

On the subject of 'ways to go' R.T.McMullen, possibly the forerunner of sailing as a recreation rather than work, who wrote the excellent book 'Down Channel', was found dead at the helm with his hand on the tiller, facing the sun...I wouldn't mind that way to go, as long as the boat was safe !

 

[chanelyacht]

Out of the several Maydays I've heard on the VHF related to divers ( seems a dodgy hobby, a colleague very nearly died when the depth / time tables were wrong ) one off Poole stands out;

Coastguard: 'What are the symptoms ?'

Dive boat: ' No symptoms at all...'

Both are entirely legitimate questions / answers. If a diver has made a rapid or uncontrolled ascent, our (CG) advice, along with PADI and BSAC, is to call us as a mayday. The reasons for this are simple - the symptoms of bends can appear from nowhere, even some time after the incident (we airlifted one from the M4 services on their way home once). Additionally, the dive boat may well have other divers in the water and would therefore be unable to make a quick run for shore if the situation changed.

In those circumstances, we will airlift and get the diver in the "pot" and back on to a correct decompression cycle before anything else can go wrong.

 

[OGITD]

Has it changed?

In those circumstances, we will airlift and get the diver in the "pot" and back on to a correct decompression cycle before anything else can go wrong.

I thought the procedure (circumstances permitting and with spare air & trained members of the team) was to take them back down to an appropriate depth & start the procedure again.