I almost drowned yesterday

[her209]

I was in 8 ft of water in a swimming pool for the first time ever. I was holding onto the side of the pool to keep afloat. Long story short, I tried to to touch the bottom and come back up. On the way down, I panicked and let all my air out. Holy shit that was a scary feeling especially when you see the surface of the water from the other side. I started flailing my arms to come up to the surface faster. It felt like forever but I made it to the surface (choking and all).

The scary thing is that I thought I was flailing and people could see me, but I guess the other people around me either didn't notice and thought I was just splashing about or it was underwater and they didn't see/hear it.

/blog

 

[Codewiz]

How old are you and you don't know how to swim?

 

[Aharami]

that is the best way to learn how to swim

 

[lxskllr]

Swimming under water is easer than swimming above water. Try again, and don't panic. Go down head first, touch the bottom, and come back up. Don't swim down too hard though, cause you can crack your head on the bottom if you aren't careful.

 

[Vette73]

???

 

[her209]

How old are you and you don't know how to swim?

32 and no. My purpose was to learn though. I was there with friends who know so I was more courageous than normal. Normally, I'd stay in the 5 ft area because I don't like the feeling of my feet not touching the ground. I did it yesterday to get over that feeling. I was also practicing swimming on the surface which I can do a little of. I tried the going to the bottom after all that.

 

[MotF Bane]

You don't know how to swim?

 

[dpodblood]

Take swimming lessons?

 

[DaWhim]

i almost drowned one time, it was the closest i have been with death. after that, my conclusion is drowning is a really suck why to die

 

[kranky]

I can relate. Where I grew up there was no opportunity to learn how to swim (poor area of town). When I got older I found I had a phobia about it - if the water reaches my chest, I start to hyperventilate. That is a very unpleasant feeling, so I just avoid it.

 

[Texashiker]

32 and no. .

Parenting fail.

 

[brainhulk]

my anklestrap broke once while surfing. So i lost my board and was getting continuously pounded by waves. Scary feeling

 

[her209]

i almost drowned one time, it was the closest i have been with death. after that, my conclusion is drowning is a really suck why to die

For sure. I thought I wasn't going to make it. My life didn't flash either.

 

[her209]

Parenting fail.

Growing up we didn't have a pool or know anyone with a pool. We were also poor so paying for access to a pool and swimming lessons was a no-go.

 

[Texashiker]

Growing up we didn't have a pool or know anyone with a pool. We were also poor so paying for access to a pool and swimming lessons was a no-go.

Who needs a pool? Go to a local lake, canal, bayou, ocean,,,,,,.

 

[Codewiz]

Instead of going with friends, take some lessons. They are cheap and a whole world opens up for you.

I just think about my vacations to the bahamas where we take a boat out. We would drop anchor in about 20 feet of clear water and jump in. Absolutely amazing times.

Not being able to swim would just suck. I was thrown in the water when I was one. Can't remember a year where I didn't go get into the water.

EDIT: I grew up poor but we had a YMCA and the county park. Both had pools and that is where I learned. Hell afterschool programs at the YMCA taught lessons as part of the program.

 

[rcpratt]

First of all, why would you do that if you don't know how to swim. Second, coming up from the bottom of a pool isn't even swimming...it would be almost impossible to drown in that situation, you're going to make it up top unless something is holding you back.

 

[her209]

Who needs a pool? Go to a local lake, canal, bayou, ocean,,,,,,.

We did go to the local lakes and rivers but its worse than a swimming pool because as a kid you're scared to go to the deep part. That's how I picked up that phobia of not having my feet touching the ground. At least with a pool you have the side to grab onto to keep yourself afloat as you try to catch your breath.

 

[Krazy4Real]

The smart thing to do would be to get some swimming lessons.

 

[TridenT]

Weird. I always knew how to swim as a child (doggy paddle ftw) before I took any lessons. The lessons didn't really help though because I can't breathe out my nose like other people can apparently. Every time I went underwater and tried to blow out air through my nose I'd just get lungs full of water.

 

[her209]

EDIT: I grew up poor but we had a YMCA and the county park. Both had pools and that is where I learned. Hell afterschool programs at the YMCA taught lessons as part of the program.

There were no YMCA's where I grew up. The only pools for public use you had to pay for. My first time in a pool was a 6th grade field trip.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Glad that you are OK. I am in the process of teaching my girlfriend how to swim, still cannot get her to stop freaking out when her feet are not touching the bottom of the shallow end as she tries to float on her back (3' of water, she is 5' tall).

The scary thing is that I thought I was flailing and people could see me

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/woman-dies-in-public-pool-in-fall-river-25-apx-20110629

The body of a Fall River woman was discovered floating in a state run pool late Tuesday night, two days after she apparently drowned in that same pool.

Police say lifeguards were on duty and people were swimming in the Veterans Memorial pool at Lafayette Park Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and it appears no one noticed the dead body.

 

[Codewiz]

There were no YMCA's where I grew up. The only pools for public use you had to pay for. My first time in a pool was a 6th grade field trip.

Well you are in your thirties now. You can afford $40 for lessons. Take the time to get some.

 

[Texashiker]

I'll help to learn how to swim, and for free.

Come to Texas, I'll take you out in the boat and find some gators. You can jump in the water close to a gator. We will see which one your afraid of more, the water or the gator.

I am willing to bet that you swim, as opposed to being gator food.

 

[Corporate Thug]

ugh, there is no need to try to touch the bottom of the deep end if you don't know how to swim.