Posted on 07/25/2009 10:07:40 AM PDT by RaceBannon
I was by Paddys at Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island, it USED to be NON-state beach, no lifeguards
anyways, I was 50 to 60 yards offshore, bobbing in the water, I am 6'4" so I need deep water to float
30 yards inland, 10 to 15 yards from the waterline, there was a sandbar, the waves were breaking over the sandbar, kicking up sand, making the water brownish
lifeguard came over, blew his whistle for 2 or 3 minutes, I didn't know it was for me, I ignored it
Some guy swam out to me, called me, I went in to listen, guard told me I was risking my life by swimming in a riptide!
The language that followed was unfathomable, I used to bodysurf waves as high as telephone poles in Hawaii and this idiot was telling me I was in danger and that since I ignored his whistle I had to leave.
I pointed out how it was a sandbar, that he saw me stand up and the water level was at my waist where he said was a riptide and that he was a fool and needed to be replaced if he was so unaware of water conditions
He told people that he KNEW where a riptide was from the brown water!
IT was a SANDBAR, and the waves were breaking over the sandbar!
And I was 30 yards out deeper than that, WAY beyond the breakers in green water, just bobbing in the water! High tide was 1 hour away! I was NO WAY being washed out to sea!
There was ZERO water being taken out from any swirl or passage to grab anyone
the moron was a BOZO!!!
Liberals will save you. Even if you do not want them to.
The State knows best.
Listen and obey.
Don’t they usually post signs at the places where you can and can’t swim on the public beaches?
Seriously, wait until the know-nothings have police power to enforce arbitrary health rules “for your own good, and the good of society”.
Know-nothings. Sounds like the name of a great political party.
First rule: Always calmly ask for their name.
cudda been worsted...it could be 2014, your in your 80’s, and a government provided “bus ride” brought you to a swimming hole in south Florida, actually a canal, and they rubbed meat sauce on your for sun block
Ironic that the state would invest in lifeguards when 0’s healthcare wants to euthanize.
Someone got a whistle and thought they were important.
Along the Panhandle red flag conditions and unguarded beaches are normal. Swim at your own risk.
Last Memorial Day in Florida I participated in a rescue of some tourists from Jersey who got caught in rip tide. They struggled, fatigues and we made a human chain to retrieve them, then carried them onto the beach.
Your story explains why these bozos didn’t know how to handle themselves in relatively minor rip conditions.
Too bad you’re not Skip Gates. Then you could claim profiling by the lifeguard and President Obama could comment on the incident.
Ever thought about teaching at Harvard?
Tough call: Riptides (or “Rips”, as we call them DownUnder) are a source of major headaches for Surf Lifesaving as they can cause swimmers some considerable grief, carrying them out past the breakers, and not a few swimmers get into trouble and drown.
Which is why they say “always swim between the flags.”
Your Surf Lifesaver obviously thought you were near a particularly strong Rip, as they can take up sand from the bottom and look muddy. If so, he was acting out of an abundance of caution for your safety, even tho’ he might have been wrong and mistaking the sandbar for a Rip.
(then again, he might have been right.)
If it were me, I’d cut him some slack.
> There was ZERO water being taken out from any swirl or passage to grab anyone
You know that’s not right ay. If water is coming in, then an equal amount of water is going out. Where there are waves, there will also be Rips. That’s just physics.
Like I said, best to cut the Surf Lifesaver some slack. Particularly if he’s been doing it for 20 years.
You should have shown him your ID and told him who you are......
In defense of the lifeguard, he didn’t know your particular history from that of people from inland areas spending a day on the beach who may not no how to swim, are inexperienced swimmers, good swimmers but inexperienced with ocean swimming or, inebriated.
“If it were me, I’d cut him some slack.”
I somewhat agree with this sentiment. As the person who would have to retrieve your dead body, he was within his rights to warn you off.
On the other hand, it was an over-reaction to kick you out because he had trouble getting your attention.
LOL! ...and I need a high bridge when I'm floating down the river on my back.
Like Henry Gates did?
Haha, good one! :)
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