PFD’s And River Fishing: Tragic Accident

Sharphooks

Well-Known Member
This past week a professional guide flipped a drift boat on a local river. Both he, his seven year old son, and a client drowned. One other client lived to call 911


People will say….”It’s Too Soon !” to bring up the fact that none of the deceased were wearing PFD’s….. but I’ll bring it up…..because of the drowned child

It doubles the tragedy knowing that a professional guide decided to invite his son along for the trip and didn’t insist that he wore a PFD….

I drifted the Skeena in a small inflatable raft a few weeks ago. It was a huge pain in the neck to transfer all my fly gear into a PFD then make myself wear it while rowing…it’s bulky, uncomfortable, tight around the neck….but the Skeena is a very big river and I was in a very small raft. I also carried a spare oar because…well… ya’ never know…

I also had a 4 month old puppy with me in the raft. She was in a PFD and I had her tied to my leg so if we flipped, I could keep her close

Why is it that different humans have such completely variable approaches and reactions and cautionary preparations to risk?
 
Today's inflatable pfds are easy and comfortable to wear. I know it's effective safety equipment when I forget I'm wearing one - more than once I've found myself still wearing it in my driveway after unhitching the boat. So everyone in my boat gets to wear a pfd, every time. Like seat belts on the road, just do it. No one has time to click in or don a life jacket when bad stuff is going down.
 
It doubles the tragedy knowing that a professional guide decided to invite his son along for the trip and didn’t insist that he wore a PFD….
You are half correct, Sharphooks. If the adult isn't ALSO wearing a PFD, and gulps water into his lungs and drowns when the boat flips, who will help the child, especially in heavy rapids?

Even when no incidents occur, when the child wearing a PFD looks at the adult not wearing one, what does that teach the child?
"When I grow up, I don't need to wear a PFD."
 
This past week a professional guide flipped a drift boat on a local river. Both he, his seven year old son, and a client drowned. One other client lived to call 911


People will say….”It’s Too Soon !” to bring up the fact that none of the deceased were wearing PFD’s….. but I’ll bring it up…..because of the drowned child

It doubles the tragedy knowing that a professional guide decided to invite his son along for the trip and didn’t insist that he wore a PFD….

I drifted the Skeena in a small inflatable raft a few weeks ago. It was a huge pain in the neck to transfer all my fly gear into a PFD then make myself wear it while rowing…it’s bulky, uncomfortable, tight around the neck….but the Skeena is a very big river and I was in a very small raft. I also carried a spare oar because…well… ya’ never know…

I also had a 4 month old puppy with me in the raft. She was in a PFD and I had her tied to my leg so if we flipped, I could keep her close

Why is it that different humans have such completely variable approaches and reactions and cautionary preparations to risk?
Sad , especially for the 7 yr old and his family left behind...A very tragic lesson for all to learn from

Growing up and raising kids is a blessing, and we should as parents try to instill safety in everything we do with them.
1 pics of me and my son and daughter many moons ago coming back from a morning on the lake (they are now 35 and 33) and I didnt have grey hair , and a few recent pics, even my sons dog would have his on(not that that one needed it , we thought he was part fish!! 😎)
 

Attachments

  • 20240820_205738.jpg
    20240820_205738.jpg
    300.7 KB · Views: 38
  • Screenshot_20251129_101947_Facebook.jpg
    Screenshot_20251129_101947_Facebook.jpg
    225.6 KB · Views: 38
  • Screenshot_20251129_102217_Facebook.jpg
    Screenshot_20251129_102217_Facebook.jpg
    64.1 KB · Views: 38
  • Screenshot_20251129_103128_Facebook.jpg
    Screenshot_20251129_103128_Facebook.jpg
    124.5 KB · Views: 37
  • Screenshot_20251129_103407_Facebook.jpg
    Screenshot_20251129_103407_Facebook.jpg
    122.3 KB · Views: 38
Last edited:
Back
Top