Posted on 07/19/2009 3:36:25 PM PDT by jan in Colorado
A 32-year-old St. George man drowned Saturday while saving his young sons from sinking in a cold Garfield County lake.
Shawn Pederson was in a paddle boat in Upper Barker Lake when he noticed that his sons, ages 5 and 7, were having trouble staying above the water as they swam nearby, according to the Garfield County Sheriff's office.
Pederson jumped in and kept the boys' heads above water as he tried to get them into the boat.
He yelled to J.H. Frost, his father-in-law, and to his brother-in-law, who were on the shore, and the two swam to the paddle boat.
They pulled the boys into the boat. By the time they turned around Pederson had slipped below the surface.
The lake where he drowned is about 8 feet deep with tangled weeds on the bottom.
Divers were called to the scene and the team he had so recently joined recovered his body around 6 p.m. Saturday.
How sad.
A father who loved his sons and gave his life for them
Prayers for the family
OMG that is sad and poignant.
Unlike way too many of the boys in our country who do not even know who their father is, these fellows should do just fine knowing their father instinctively was willing to perish for them. I hope they can make their own way, they have been given a good start-
Very sad story.
I'm so glad the two boys were saved but what a tragedy for the family.
God bless them all.
omg- the water temp was 50 degrees and the family had 2 young kids swimming in it without life jackets?
Didn’t that SAR course teach hypothermia?
Yes, and he gave his life for his mistake.
Pretty much the snide, jackass post of the day, congratulations
Thank you.
This is an awful tragedy, prayers for the family. Having said that, I cannot imagine letting 2 small boys swim in a lake without a flotation device, especially in water that cold. Maybe you folks who frequent cold lakes will tell me if this is common practice. I think Dad should have been wearing a device, as well.
Enjoy your stay
"The temperature immediately below the surface was estimated to be in the low 50s. Immersion in cold water can quickly numb the extremities and make it difficult to swim.
"The mountain lake water may not seem as cold on the surface, but the more you get into the water, the temperatures plummet rapidly," Garfield County Deputy Kevin Moore said in a release.
"Tragically in this case the water temperature, along with the undergrowth vegetation, caused the drowning of a very strong and skilled swimmer," Moore said. "We strongly urge anyone that plans to swim in any mountain lake that they always wear a life preserver."
He obviously didn't wear one in the boat, or have one with him when he went in the water.
A shame he had to pay such a price for a series of poor decisions.
Prayers for them all.
I just think it's kind of crapppy to bash him when he just gave his life saving his two sons while paying for his mistake.
Looks like the noobs post got pulled anyway.
Condolences to Shawn Pederson’s sons, his father-in-law, the remaining members of his family, and his friends.
Cold lake and look at these ages. I am glad the kids could be saved but with decisions like this....
And that’s what being a man is really all about. Giving yourself for the sake of your family. God bless his memory. God bless his family.
Surely life is pain and suffering; every moment; somewhere in the world. So sad; prayers for this young Father and his young family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.