Drowning:
Deep free dive of about 40 ft to try and spear some grouper. Down too long (about 2 mins). Had my head up when surfacing and as soon as my mask broke the surface I inhaled all water and went out. Buddy got me to the beach. Never told my parents because we were skipping school. They wondered why I had bronchitis for 6 months.
Lightening:
Climbing over a cow gate and tree next to it was hit. Knocked me flat, but not out. Minutes later I realized my hair was sticking straight out and it was long. Good news is there were 6 catfish ready to be skinned and unharmed.
Amazing how many on this thread had such close calls and came through them.
Usually we don't think we have pushed the envelope until the consequences hit is between the eyes, so to speak. Good thing you had a friend close.
***Lightening: Climbing over a cow gate and tree next to it was hit. Knocked me flat, but not out***
If memory serves it is called 'splatter'; sometimes it is relatively harmless and sometimes it can be deadly. Here in the lightning capitol of the world (Central Florida) they warn not to take shelter under a tree in a lightning storm. Of course yours was coincidental.
Have you noticed any possible long term effects? In my case the path of the current played a role, eventually earning a disability rating. With splatter I don't imagine the path of current is as much of a factor. Still, since my event a great deal of good medical research has been done on 'after effects' of lightning strike and electric shock. When I finally got to a doctor he said, 'If you survived you're OK.' That was the medical view in 1987. I can testify that that has proven untrue.
the gurgle and zot club