So you are under water and you pull your knife and cut the rope.
I used to serve in a military unit that tested us by blind folding us while we were fully armed and dressed, and having us walk into water, the test was to simulate patrolling in pitch dark and then suddenly finding yourself in a river or pond, a person merely lets things settle down for a second and then deals with the situation.
While you guys are arguing against a knife being helpful, I personally would have had a knife, I carry two on me everyday just living regular life, and would sure have had one appropriate to doing that work.
I’m not arguing against a knife being helpful. Did you even read what I said? Did they test you by dragging you into a ship’s rail at a speed that could easily break your leg and split your skull wide open? Every crew member on every boat in the series Deadliest Catch does carry a knife so your assumption that he didn’t have a knife is just intellectual laziness.
Gee, I hope people are more charitable to you if you someday have a fatal accident (which I hope does not happen).
There’s only so much one can do with a sudden thing like this. He might have dropped his knife, been hit on the head, swallowed water immediately and started to choke, etc.
Just be right with the Lord, that’s the best preparation. Do the other things too, but you never know at the last minute.
In this case, one second might add ear splitting pain due to the depth he had been pulled down to.