I'm hoping to swim in open water some day. Just read some articles about what to pay attention to and all sorts of accidents that can happen--losing goggles or cap when the race just started, for example. Some people bring an extra pair of goggles and wear them on their ankles or necks??
It will be interesting to hear what kind of accidents people have actually experienced in OW swimming--goggles/cap accidents, cramps due to cold water, losing direction, animal bites, needing rescue... And if you had the rare chance to see what the inside of the stomach of a shark was like that would be exciting to hear :D
Parents
Former Member
I've been OW swimming for 11 years and have only had one mentionable "accident".
In early May of this year, I was swimming in L.I. Sound. It was a cloudy day, but I didn't think anything of it as I went out to do my normal swim which takes me about 1/4 mile from shore at the furthest point. When I reached the 1/4 mile buoy, I turned around and saw that a thick fog had rolled in and I couldn't see shore. At that point I thought it was exciting.
I changed my mind when I began swimming back to shore and realized I could see anything but water and the fog all around me. After a few minutes swimming I was relieved to see the shore buoy coming into sight through the fog, but quickly became horrified when I realized it was the same buoy I had left minutes before. Somehow I had gone in a circle. This was probably the only time I have ever truly been frightened in open water swimming; the water was cold (in the low 50s) and I knew that if I kept swimming around I was just going to get tired. So I hung out at the buoy.
Fortunately a boat came along a few minutes later and I was got a ride back to shore. When I did I realized I had hurt my ring finger on one hand. It was swollen, but I assumed it was a sprain since it didn't hurt and I had no idea how it had happened. A few weeks later, when it still hurt, I went to the doctor and found I had broken the finger - I guess while I was climbing onto the boat. It has since healed, eeven though I have slightly less range of motion in that finger.
So that's my story about open water injuries. Not too likely to happen to anyone else, though I suppose I have learned a lesson about fog...still, with all the enjoyment I've gotten from OWS in the past decade (my favorite thing in life), it's still worth it.
I've been OW swimming for 11 years and have only had one mentionable "accident".
In early May of this year, I was swimming in L.I. Sound. It was a cloudy day, but I didn't think anything of it as I went out to do my normal swim which takes me about 1/4 mile from shore at the furthest point. When I reached the 1/4 mile buoy, I turned around and saw that a thick fog had rolled in and I couldn't see shore. At that point I thought it was exciting.
I changed my mind when I began swimming back to shore and realized I could see anything but water and the fog all around me. After a few minutes swimming I was relieved to see the shore buoy coming into sight through the fog, but quickly became horrified when I realized it was the same buoy I had left minutes before. Somehow I had gone in a circle. This was probably the only time I have ever truly been frightened in open water swimming; the water was cold (in the low 50s) and I knew that if I kept swimming around I was just going to get tired. So I hung out at the buoy.
Fortunately a boat came along a few minutes later and I was got a ride back to shore. When I did I realized I had hurt my ring finger on one hand. It was swollen, but I assumed it was a sprain since it didn't hurt and I had no idea how it had happened. A few weeks later, when it still hurt, I went to the doctor and found I had broken the finger - I guess while I was climbing onto the boat. It has since healed, eeven though I have slightly less range of motion in that finger.
So that's my story about open water injuries. Not too likely to happen to anyone else, though I suppose I have learned a lesson about fog...still, with all the enjoyment I've gotten from OWS in the past decade (my favorite thing in life), it's still worth it.
