Posted on 07/11/2013 7:34:02 PM PDT by lowbridge
A mother fought to keep her family alive as they clung to their capsized boat in cold water infested with jelly fish while her brother swam for five hours to get help.
Contessa L. Riggs, 43, of Washington D.C., was fishing off the coast of Deal Island, Md., on Tuesday with her brother, John Franklin Riggs, her 70-year old father, 9-year-old niece and 3-year-old son, when a thunder storm struck.
"It was sundown. The water suddenly became very choppy and a wave crashed into the boat, filling the boat with water," Riggs told ABC News.
-snip
Riggs knew that nobody was going to start looking for them until the next day, so she and John decided they had to act.
"Our family wasn't expecting us back until tomorrow, and we didn't think we'd be able to make it that long," Riggs said.
"John and I looked at each other and he said, 'Should I try it?' I knew he was talking about swimming to shore. So I told him to try it. But we had no idea if he would make it to shore," she added.
The sun had set by the time Rigg's brother left his father, niece, nephew, and sister on the capsized boat. He swam for almost five hours, reaching shore around 1 a.m.
"John made it to the beach but he was so tired, he could not walk. So he crawled to the nearest house he saw. Luckily they had dogs, which woke the family up. And even luckier for us, that family had the personal number for the fire chief," Riggs said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Good morning news - Life affirming bump!
Thank You Lord for good , brave people like this family. The brother, John, was incredibly brave, but the sister was as strong, to keep her children calm and safe, and watch over her father as well.
And if you have a minute, check the short piece on a bride to be who rescued a drowning child!
Good news all!
Thank you lowbridge, for such a nice start to the day :)
May God bless.
Tatt
Deal Island is in Somerset County on the Eastern Shore and it is one of a number of small islands in that part of the Chesapeake. It has a population of between 500 and 600.
You are talking about DEALE.
This is an island, different spelling, on the Eastern Shore not too far from Smith Is. There is a cluster of islands around there, and Deal is more inland.
But I guess I can see someone having trouble if things aren’t just right. Just seemed that there weren’t that many miles to any shore.
That must be the 1 that self-righteous Bill O’Reilly detests. HE was a water safety instructor, you see, and he knows you never have a child in the water without an adult in the water too.
Got it. Thanks for the correction.Having said that,5 hours to shore over there? Also no mention of life jackets, flares, radio etc.etc. which are required these days.
“Everybody is fine. But really, there were some very beautiful moments in the water.
Actually not odd - this kind of attitude is what helps people ultimately survive disasters when others in the same situation don't. The book Deep Survival includes this topic. Something for all preppers to think about (so pinging Kart!).
Nanny-state requirements often go out the window - or in the water - when boats capsize and cars roll down hills.
Oh I understand it.
I can’t speak to phosphorescence being associated with sharks.
Prepper’s PING!!
meowmeow is right a quick acceptance of the ‘new’ reality is a key to surviving a shtf situation. You know the water and power are out or yet you find yourself flipping switches and turning sipgots is something everyone does.
It’s those who quickly accept that there is now power and no water and that either have planned for it or those that quick gwasp what has happened a decide to adapt and overcome that survive.
Those that stand around and bitch and moan flagging down every first responder that comes and asking them stupid question like whe is the power or even the cable going to come back on or don’t even have a clean decent size water contianer to transport water in if and when potable water is made available that don’t.
There are also those (Some even on FR) that aready claim that they would rather just lay down and die. Those I understand the least.
It's a tough job, but shouldn't be a thank-less one.
Thank you! :)
Good point. Query. wasn’t this a skiff on the order of a Boston Whaler? If so why would anyone leave the thing? Lots more information would be interesting here.
Local news (I live on the Shore) was saying they all donned life vests and hung on to the capsized boat while the one went for help.
Boston Whalers won’t sink, the hull itself has flotation even if broken apart.
You might be surprised that I, grand prepper that I am, did not own a bucket before a week or two ago. I didn't do outdoor stuff and I thought surly there are buckets in the storage room. What I found "used" to be a blue one that was cracked completely in two. I had not one usable bucket.
I now have two buckets. Since I'm learning to garden, I needed buckets but I needed buckets anyway for whatever. Of all that I had, not one single bucket.
The bucket problem is why some people will die as your quoted post above indicates. They haven't considered what they would need in an emergency and they won't. I read only 2% of people in this country have any preparations for an emergency.
Even where I am and south of me, people know this is hurricane season but they won't do a thing until the hurricane is coming on shore at or near Galveston. Then, in two days, there is nothing left in every store that sells food and water and Lowes and Home Depot sell out of flashlights, batteries and plywood. There is nothing left in this town to keep a person alive. How much water and food do they buy? Not much. They would have nothing in an extended emergency.
People have the right to choose to die rather than prep. I prefer to have preps to give myself a chance to live and that includes having buckets.
My generator automatically kicks on 36 seconds after the commercial power goes off line. I am very thankful.
at 2 years old I could not keep my daughter out of the pool if I wanted to. and I was not in the water every minute. that would be ridiculous.
Generally I would agree with him and the instructor who supported him, but this little 1 clearly has a handle on swimming, and dad was just on the precipice of the pool.
Another “blow it out your ear, BOR” moment.
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.