September 21, 2007
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How?
I don't normally go for blogging news stories, but, how can this have happened. Repeat after me.
"Reach, Throw, Wade, Row, Swim and Tow".
First, you try to reach the person in the water. Then you try throwing something buoyant at them, such as a life ring. Then you wade in, and try the same thing. Then you try with a boat, and the very last resort is to lower yourself into the water, and swim to them (approach from behind, if they're flailing).
I have known this by heart since I was about eight years old. I learnt it from a Ladybird book, and I hope never to have to use it...
Jordon Lyon leapt into the water in Wigan, Greater Manchester, after his eight-year-old stepsister Bethany got into difficulties on 3 May.
Two anglers jumped in and saved Bethany but Jordon became submerged.
The inquest into his death heard the PCSOs did not rescue him as they were not trained to deal with the incident.
Jordon was playing at the edge of the pond, known locally as John Pit, off Wigan Lower Road, in Standish Lower Ground, with his two brothers, stepbrother and stepsister on 3 May.
He was trying to support Bethany as she struggled in the six-feet-deep water before slipping from view.
Anglers managed to pull Bethany out but Jordon was out of sight before they could get to him.
The alarm was raised and the PCSOs arrived on the scene. Police said they could see no sign of Jordon in the water, so they radioed trained officers for help.
Greater Manchester Police said an officer was on the scene within five minutes.
Members of Jordon's family also rushed to the scene to join the search.
He was eventually pulled from the pond but despite attempts to resuscitate him he was later pronounced dead in hospital.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
OK. How does it go?
R
T
W
R
S&T
(plus a half day training session on First Aid, so you know what to do once you've got them out of the water).
xxx
Comments (4)
Oh my...
Almost... but not quite... shocking.
I do hope I'd have gone in teh water after him. After all I swim quite well. Wo0udl depend if I retained my wits or panicked. of course at home by the Thames there are so many lifebelts no one would need to enter the water. One would aim and throw... Like you I hope never to have to. Interesting that noone condemns the parents who allowed four small children to play by that expanse of deep dangerous water. Someone should have saved her son not I should have kept safe. More abdicating of responsibility. This does not excuse the idiots who did nothing however - it was not the childs fault.
i read somewhere that it wasn't just the fact they weren't trained to save drowning children, it was also because they were worried about damaging some equipment they were carrying, which rather begged the obvious question of which is more important - life or technology? i'm appalled that they didn't even attempt to do anything [unless neither of them could swim, but even then they could have done more to help] because surely our natural instincts are to help children in distress. i'd like to think that they've now had the relevant training, but i very much doubt it. i do, however, hope that the feel terribly ashamed of themselves and that they live with the guilt for ever [or for a very long time anyway].