Outer Banks - Sad news

Sometimes horrible accidents happen. There is no reason to criticize someone who is going through the worst moment of their life... unless you feel the need to say “I’m smarter than her and would never let that happen”

 

I work for Nags Head Ocean rescue and was called in on my day off just in case we were going to assist in rescue/recovery efforts but we never did. A bunch of my friends and fellow guards were on it though and they said it was a pretty heavy feeling because they knew he was gone... Its a terrible situation overall. about 20 minutes after it happened a lightning storm came up and really put possibly finding him and attempting CPR off the table.

His body washed up in Corova yesterday morning. Just goes to show how fast the long-shore current is around here when there is a heavily angled swell from the north or the south. At least they have something to bury now though to give them some closure. Rest in peace little man.

 

Very sad.
It was rough up this way (VB), and the water wasn't exactly warm either...lower 50s.

 

It's sad that you thinkI'm just trying to say I'm smarter. If you actually read what i said, i said maybe I'm the ignorant one. That wasn't sarcasm. Kinda hard to say I'm smarter and I'm the ignorant one at the same time.

I was just speaking my mind. Not saying the mother is a bad person. We criticize bad decisions all the time, especially here. But now that this one resulted in a child's death we're supposed to hush hush? Conversation sparks change. It's clear that people don't realize the obvious (to us. Like i said, I'm the ignorant one for assuming others would have this knowledge) dangers of certain ocean conditions. Have you ever surfed the OBX? I have. One time in fall during a hurricane swell. Red flags and signs warning people to stay out of the water. Were signs like this out on this day? I'm assuming not. OBX gets alot off tourists. Alot of those tourist realize it gets crazy in the summer and travel there in the spring or fall. And when its nice out they head to the beach. Maybe they should put those signs and flags out anytime there's dangerous conditions, year round. I don't live there. I'm not making that change. But maybe the locals can. Or should we just hush hush until something like this happens again?

No hard feelings. But it's really quite sad that you assume I'm just trying to say I'm smarter. I apologize if i gave that impression. The situation is sad and to me it was an obvious bad idea. But like i said and you seemed to miss, so I'll say it a third or fourth time. I'm the ignorant one for expecting that to be obvious to others. So maybe we should use that knowledge to warn/ educate others and hopefully prevent another accident

 

I get it. As I've seen elsewhere, you weren't the only one asking why a mother and her 4 year old were walking in the water during rough surf conditions with water temps in the low 50s. Yes, it was a very sad tragedy. Unfortunately, that's life and the world we live in.

 

No hard feelings at all...
Of course you/we know know more about the ocean then the average person from the experience we have...
My point was that "questioning a mothers intelligence" or saying "i hope she's not the idiot I thinks she is" may not be the right thing to do.

Accidents happen and can always be avoided, but they still happen. I'm sure she feels like an idiot and will regret that moment every day for the rest of her life

 

I give everyone who seems unfamiliar with the ocean the same speech:

Going in more than ankle deep in the ocean is like going into a dense, dark forest filled with bears and snakes, tress that can fall on you at any moment, and if you lose your footing you can't breathe. The ocean is wilderness in it's truest form, and it does not forgive.

I'm sure I have made some people afraid of the ocean, but I may have saved their life.

I learned to fear and respect the ocean the hard way, and I'm sure many of you have too.

 

Bad things happen sometimes for no good reason. My son launched himself down a flight of stairs on a big wheel when he was 4 when I was supposed to be watching him, he stood up and was fine, but sometimes they're not fine.

If you've had kids, just think about how many times things could have gone very badly because you weren't paying attention.

 

I'm amazed that they found the body. Also amazing how far it traveled. Having once found a human body that had been in the water for less than 3 days I don't know how much comfort came from finding this child after nearly a week. Whatever remains they did find were not pretty.

 

The town where they are from is the town/city I lived in prior to moving to the beach; I lived there for 35 years. I can tell you, despite Manchester being 35 minutes to the beach, 99% of the citizens are naively ignorant about the ways of the ocean.
I feel sorry for the family; it is never to be forgotten. As I mentioned in years prior, my mom lost my eldest brother. She was never the same; not one day went by she did not feel the pain. The Manchester family will suffer the same; passage of time will not assuage any sadness, guilt, or grief.
I wish them the best and of course, my deepest sympathies.

 

well said cuda.

 

Ditto.

 

I've guarded a popular beach for years and some of the craziest rescues have been families with younger kids. As a surfer, I get how you think people can manage out of trouble but panic is the killer.

I remember the first time I realized how quick things can happen - it was a solid swell (similar to this past week) and a dad was hand in hand with his 4 kids in a circle ducking under the wash waves in knee deep water on the inside bar. Everything was dandy. Suddenly, the whole family was swept off their feet and carried out in the rip. Literally, they were out past the break in seconds. There was no whistling or trying to let them swim in - it was obvious that we needed to go asap. We got everyone, but if we were not there they all would have drown.

I will never forget how quick it all happened and gained a whole new level of respect for the ocean after that.

 

100%. That's why after iggy responded i took the idiot statement back. That was harsh and not what i was going for. Ws speaking off of pure emotion instead of thinking about what i was saying. That was my bad for wording it that way. I'll take the heat for that one.

Ignorance of the ocean is a big deal though. People often flock to the beaches and see it as a play ground. Often in the summer conditions are friendly. But things can get very unfriendly any time of year. And for people who are ignorant to that fact that the ocean can be unfriendly.... they need to be warned. Especially in OBX. It's a tourist hot spot and has some serious power. It really shouldn't be that hard to set up warnings year round. And if it saves lives it's totally worth it. It works in the warmer months. Outside of the tourist season those warnings should still be posted

 

Very well-said headhigh.

 

I am sad to read this news but I am not surprised. 2 Septembers ago I was on the beach after surfing and there was a heavy north-south current running with the after effects of a tropical storm that was, by this time, well up the eastern coast; I heard a mom scream for her son and she and 5 adults were pointing at a child bobbing up and down, over his head, off his feet and eyes big as saucers. So I rushed and angled for him and plucked him out and got back to the beach and gave him to his mom. He was gasping for air, and they all spoke in what sounded like Russian. I think the same thing happened to him as with this child in Kitty Hawk; he must have been standing onshore watching the waves, one broke in front of him, all that water is now behind him and sweeps him off his feet and he is in trouble.

 

My deepest condolences for this family. I can’t imagine anything worse than burying a child.

I have the utmost respect for first responders, ocean rescue and guards, especially those guys working in localities with rough surf.

My pops did search and rescue for the Navy and I did some petty lifeguarding. I’ve made some rescues in my days, almost always kids except I did have one adult who coded and I revived with CPR.

I think Bass is onto something with the warnings. There are too many people that just don’t understand the dangers of the ocean. Prevention is a hell of a lot more effective than active intervention. Any time you see something, say something before it hits the fan.

 

Better yet, think about all the dumb shit we did as kids ourself! I should have died at least 10 times by now, just got lucky I guess.

 

we have rip current sign posted at every public access at the beach down here but if people don't read them....
also the reason why we start having people on staff working in april is because the water starts warming up and the so doe the weather. there has been too man preseason drownings so they had to get the staff up and running earlier. we still need people year round though because the fire departments, unless they are former or current guards like some are, will not get in the water without a ski or a boat b/c they are not comfortable in the ocean let alone cold water.