Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
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Wesslewoggle
Mako
c03n3nj0
zex
dsister
El Duderino
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damkira
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Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
(CNN) -- As temperatures soared Monday, the cool water of Shreveport, Louisiana's, Red River lured a group of family and friends to its banks.
In an effort to cool off, one of the teens wandered into the shallow part of the river.
At some point he slipped into deep water and started to drown.
So six more teens went to his rescue.
Only one made it back to shore.
Shreveport, Louisiana, Fire Chief Brian Crawford said as soon as the first teen was in trouble, the others instinctively rushed to help.
"Whether you can't swim or don't swim ... you're just gonna go and do what you think you have to do," he said.
The parents stood helpless on the shore and watched as their children struggled and eventually slipped under the water. The adults could not swim either.
"Imagine watching your child drown and not being able to do anything," Crawford said.
Brothers Litrelle Stewart, 18; Latevin Stewart, 15; and LaDairus Stewart, 17; and siblings Takeitha Warner, 13; JaMarcus Warner, 14; and JaTavious Warner, 17 died.
African-American children drown at a rate almost three times higher than white children, according to Make a Splash, a national child-focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation.
But swimming officials said the key indicator is not race, but family -- children from nonswimming households are eight times more likely to be at risk of drowning.
The divers said the river bed drops from a shallow area to about 28 feet deep. The six teens were found within 20 feet to 30 feet of each other. Though because the divers were combing through "black water," the recovery took more than two hours.
Crawford said divers were committed to retrieving the bodies, even as the night closed in.
"I'm a parent, and I can't imagine I've lost my child and then they spend the night at the bottom of a river," he said.
Authorities are trying to construct the timeline of events. Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover said he met with the lone survivor Monday night and he is "having a rather difficult time right now, and I don't want to have any more burden placed on him or added guilt than he's already handling right now."
Police officers have spent time this summer issuing tickets, warnings and even creating barriers in an effort to keep people away from the swift Red River in Shreveport. The area is a popular spot for boaters who tie up and barbecue. But it can be a death trap for someone without a life jacket who can't swim.
"What is ironic is the Shreveport Police Department through July worked a series of enforcements to discourage people from parking and accessing that part of the river," said Glover, adding that the city does not allow recreational activities, including swimming along the banks of the river. Only boaters are allowed.
The fire chief said to honor the children's memory, he wants the public to be aware of the river's inherent danger.
"Somebody's going down to that river today, and they don't need to get in the water if they don't know how to swim or have a flotation device."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/02/louisiana.river.drowning/?hpt=T2
I'm dumbfounded that NONE of these people knew how to swim.. That's at least 9 people.. how do you go through life not knowing anyway? I thought pretty much everyone knew how...
In an effort to cool off, one of the teens wandered into the shallow part of the river.
At some point he slipped into deep water and started to drown.
So six more teens went to his rescue.
Only one made it back to shore.
Shreveport, Louisiana, Fire Chief Brian Crawford said as soon as the first teen was in trouble, the others instinctively rushed to help.
"Whether you can't swim or don't swim ... you're just gonna go and do what you think you have to do," he said.
The parents stood helpless on the shore and watched as their children struggled and eventually slipped under the water. The adults could not swim either.
"Imagine watching your child drown and not being able to do anything," Crawford said.
Brothers Litrelle Stewart, 18; Latevin Stewart, 15; and LaDairus Stewart, 17; and siblings Takeitha Warner, 13; JaMarcus Warner, 14; and JaTavious Warner, 17 died.
African-American children drown at a rate almost three times higher than white children, according to Make a Splash, a national child-focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation.
But swimming officials said the key indicator is not race, but family -- children from nonswimming households are eight times more likely to be at risk of drowning.
The divers said the river bed drops from a shallow area to about 28 feet deep. The six teens were found within 20 feet to 30 feet of each other. Though because the divers were combing through "black water," the recovery took more than two hours.
Crawford said divers were committed to retrieving the bodies, even as the night closed in.
"I'm a parent, and I can't imagine I've lost my child and then they spend the night at the bottom of a river," he said.
Authorities are trying to construct the timeline of events. Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover said he met with the lone survivor Monday night and he is "having a rather difficult time right now, and I don't want to have any more burden placed on him or added guilt than he's already handling right now."
Police officers have spent time this summer issuing tickets, warnings and even creating barriers in an effort to keep people away from the swift Red River in Shreveport. The area is a popular spot for boaters who tie up and barbecue. But it can be a death trap for someone without a life jacket who can't swim.
"What is ironic is the Shreveport Police Department through July worked a series of enforcements to discourage people from parking and accessing that part of the river," said Glover, adding that the city does not allow recreational activities, including swimming along the banks of the river. Only boaters are allowed.
The fire chief said to honor the children's memory, he wants the public to be aware of the river's inherent danger.
"Somebody's going down to that river today, and they don't need to get in the water if they don't know how to swim or have a flotation device."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/02/louisiana.river.drowning/?hpt=T2
I'm dumbfounded that NONE of these people knew how to swim.. That's at least 9 people.. how do you go through life not knowing anyway? I thought pretty much everyone knew how...
damkira- Posts : 202
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
I can't swim...
Alasted- Posts : 385
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
^^ really not ??? not even doggy paddle ??? I'd be really afraid of open water if couldn't swim...
and yeah I hear black people have a reputation of not being able to swim... or at least many of them... and if you grow up in a city with no lakes or public pools and schools don't teach swimming it makes sense...
and yeah I hear black people have a reputation of not being able to swim... or at least many of them... and if you grow up in a city with no lakes or public pools and schools don't teach swimming it makes sense...
El Duderino- Posts : 1711
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
Well, I used to doggy paddle a little bit, but no swimming.
Although I suppose that being born and raised in Hawaii, that's a skill that I really should have... -_-
Although I suppose that being born and raised in Hawaii, that's a skill that I really should have... -_-
Alasted- Posts : 385
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
El Duderino wrote:^^ really not ??? not even doggy paddle ??? I'd be really afraid of open water if couldn't swim...
and yeah I hear black people have a reputation of not being able to swim... or at least many of them... and if you grow up in a city with no lakes or public pools and schools don't teach swimming it makes sense...
I think most cities have public pools.. and most apartment complexes do as well. I know not all schools can afford a pool but it seems this would be one of the most important lessons in physical education.
damkira- Posts : 202
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
yeah having pools and lakes around is one thing... having someone motivate you to actually learn swimming is a different story... and then again swimming in a pool and swimming in the ocean or a river with a current is also very different...
El Duderino- Posts : 1711
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
I have to say. They have better friends then parents...
dsister- Posts : 886
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
To graduate from my school you need to pass a swimming aptitude test, if you don't pass it you have to take swimming as sport until you do-
I'm not a good swimmer, in fact I'm a pretty crap one, but at least I know that I can maintain myself afloat for a couple minutes...not that I'd enter any river, I hate water.
Kinda weird that no one could swim in there
I'm not a good swimmer, in fact I'm a pretty crap one, but at least I know that I can maintain myself afloat for a couple minutes...not that I'd enter any river, I hate water.
Kinda weird that no one could swim in there
zex- Posts : 1784
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
That sucks. Really, if I were a parent i'd go in to help anyways, rather drown than watch my kids drown -_-
I know how to swim... but never been to any rivers or the ocean deeper the 6 feet.
I know how to swim... but never been to any rivers or the ocean deeper the 6 feet.
c03n3nj0- Posts : 949
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
Out of ALL those people how could none of them swim? I mean come on...
It is still very sad though to hear they all died.
It is still very sad though to hear they all died.
Mako- Admin
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
We should all know how to swim automatically like dogs or cats.
Wesslewoggle- Posts : 10
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
^^ We do... but sadly that instinct is lost very fast...
El Duderino- Posts : 1711
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
That's sad....farted up too. Swimming should come natural just kick legs and swing arms forward hell enough motion without panicing you'll stay afloat...
B4L- Posts : 1187
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
Someone gonna take this as a reason to make a "Wii Swimming Lessons" now ???
... yes Im a evil bastard... I know...
... yes Im a evil bastard... I know...
El Duderino- Posts : 1711
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
Wow, that's just sad. Not ONE person knew how to swim? That's just embarrassing.
KingFate- Posts : 57
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Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
If you cannot swim....
- Spoiler:
- STAY OUT OF THE farting WATER!
Re: Six teens drown to save drowning teen; family ashore unable to help because THEY can't swim
That's kinda sad actually.
Also you would think that at least one amongst a group that big would know how to swim.
Also you would think that at least one amongst a group that big would know how to swim.
koyotecat- Posts : 99
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