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
Several things:
1) Getting my hand/arm caught in an abandoned crab trap in shallow water towards the end of a 5 mile race. Nearly had a heart attack as it felt like something grabbed me.
2) Near accident: During 10k, having a powerboat almost run me over and then cutting in front of me so closely that I got a lung full of exhaust and a mouth full of engine crud which lead to vomiting.
3) Not an accident, but... Having my urinary tract shut down during the MIMS race and having to drop out and go to the hospital to be catheterized.
4) Getting a fish-hook in the foot at the end of a race in the Lehigh River.
5) Being thrown backwards by a wave at the start of a 5k and hitting a teenage girl in the process, practically knocking her unconscious. I had to drag her out of the surf as she was pretty out-of-it.
6) Not an accident at all: At the same race as #5, standing on the sidewalk while waiting for the bus to the start and having some woman who was just passing-by grab my butt.
7) Having a kayaker run over me completely at the very end of the Little Red Lighthouse swim.
8) During the Boston Light swim, my brother, who is an ex-college football player, throw my water bottle to me much too hard and smash me in the face. He thought he had to throw it like a pass and I would catch it.
9) Having a large chunk of floating wood clobber me in the head at an Atlantic City ocean race.
-LBJ
Several things:
1) Getting my hand/arm caught in an abandoned crab trap in shallow water towards the end of a 5 mile race. Nearly had a heart attack as it felt like something grabbed me.
2) Near accident: During 10k, having a powerboat almost run me over and then cutting in front of me so closely that I got a lung full of exhaust and a mouth full of engine crud which lead to vomiting.
3) Not an accident, but... Having my urinary tract shut down during the MIMS race and having to drop out and go to the hospital to be catheterized.
4) Getting a fish-hook in the foot at the end of a race in the Lehigh River.
5) Being thrown backwards by a wave at the start of a 5k and hitting a teenage girl in the process, practically knocking her unconscious. I had to drag her out of the surf as she was pretty out-of-it.
6) Not an accident at all: At the same race as #5, standing on the sidewalk while waiting for the bus to the start and having some woman who was just passing-by grab my butt.
7) Having a kayaker run over me completely at the very end of the Little Red Lighthouse swim.
8) During the Boston Light swim, my brother, who is an ex-college football player, throw my water bottle to me much too hard and smash me in the face. He thought he had to throw it like a pass and I would catch it.
9) Having a large chunk of floating wood clobber me in the head at an Atlantic City ocean race.
-LBJ
