Another Drowning in Central Texas
By bostonphil
@bostonphil (4459)
United States
June 25, 2011 7:11pm CST
I live in Central Texas. It is beautiful but it is also hot. Really hot. We have some beautiful lakes, rivers and swimming holes in the vicinity. People come from all over to swim and engage in water sports. Unfortunately, we have an abnormally high number of drownings every year. The lakes are very deep, sometimes 40 feet in some places. They can be shallow when you first walk out but they can drop off unexpectedly. That is because they are man made lakes. Our lakes are actually The Colorado River which has been dammed. The rivers have strong currents and can also be very deep in places. Persons need to be exceptional swimmers to swim in these waters or be wearing water gear. Also, this is a party city. There are bars and restaurants serving alcohol near and around all the swimming spots.
We have an unusual number of drownings every year but this year has been the worst. Someone drowned yesterday. Two people have drowned this afternoon. They have found one body and are searching for the other. There have been over 10 drownings now since the hot weather began. I want to say closer to 15. And these drowning have mostly occurred in the last week or two.
You try to warn people about swimming in Central Texas but it goes in one ear and out the other. Everyone thinks that nothing is going to happen to them. It's always the other guy. Most of the persons who drown are young and often are tourists / visitors. Very sad.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
26 Jun 11
Some people will only listen once something bad happens to them. They don't take sh!t from anybody and take their own experiences as lesson instead. I know some who are like this. We visited a sea side once back in my province. The sea isn't for swimming even though the water looks clear because the soil underneath isn't consistent. There are parts that cave in pretty low and that caused some drownings before but my friends insisted on dipping a bit there. To no surprise, one of them drowned but, thankfully, a lifeguard came in to the rescue.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
26 Jun 11
Yup. People believe that it will only happen to someone else and not to them. You try to warn them and like I said, it goes in one ear and out the other. I guess you and your friends were lucky. It must have been difficult for you also having to deal with a friend in distress.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
26 Jun 11
It is frustrating.
You say something and they'll look at you like "Who the hell are you? My dad?" Seriously, they caused too much time and trouble there that I promised myself never to go there with them drunk again.
You say something and they'll look at you like "Who the hell are you? My dad?" Seriously, they caused too much time and trouble there that I promised myself never to go there with them drunk again.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
26 Jun 11
Placards are to be exhibited prominently near beaches. I am sure government would have done that.
Above all parents and well wishers must advise this younger generation to be more careful while going to sea. Many of them live independently and are not bothering about informing the parents also. this will make some people being not identified and some families not knowing that their son or daughter has drowned.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
26 Jun 11
I do believe that there are warning signs when needed. I also think that at some of the beaches, there are lifeguards. But outsiders still do not understand how dangerous the lakes and rivers are even with the warning signs.
The majority of persons who drown are adults or young adults who live independent of their parents. Often the parents have to be notified and sometimes they live in a different city, state or country, such as Mexico.
The name have not yet been released of yesterday's drowning victims but I believe that all four were from out of the area. One or two were with a church group that was on a retreat or camping trip.
The lakes are man made. The Colorado River has been dammed to create beautiful lakes but they are treacherous to those who use them for swimming and water sports. At shore, they are shallow but you can walk out just a foot or two and plunge 20 feet. There are cliffs and they drop off suddenly. I believe there are warning signs in the water. But swimmers and boaters do not quite seem to understand just how deadly the water can be. You have to live here to realize it. The majority of persons who drown are visitors to the area.
