NFL Player Lost at Sea Urged to Buy Life-Saving Device for Boats in Distress -- But Didn't

FOXNews.com ^ | Thursday, March 05, 2009 | FOX NEWS

[metmom]

Two days before NFL player Marquis Cooper took a doomed fishing trip with three friends in Florida Gulf Coast waters, a friend urged him to buy a life-saving device used to locate boats in distress.

Cooper hadn't heard of the gadget, an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). And he didn't purchase one before his excursion on Saturday, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

[bvw]

The sad story parallels the situation we are now in, nationally and globally. The sea can be unforgiving even to the best prepared. Yet as a nation, we are like the boat owner, and as the whole of humanity they are like ones going along for the ride.

Hang tough, all.

[Myrddin]

The last time I flew a Cessna 150 was on July 18, 1983. The next month I purchased a house and could no longer afford to fly. By 1985, I had a bout with cancer. My flight surgeon wouldn't re-certify me without detailed records of my treatment. I would love to fly again, but all the changes would make it a necessary to run through "ground school" again just to assimilate and update to the current standards. My first aircraft was a 1946 Aeronco Champ flown out of Flying J at Brown Field near San Diego. That little tail dragger had minimal instruments. I miss flying, but it was all just for entertainment anyway.

[BunnySlippers]

Schulyer said that initially there was other flotsam that the others held onto and,as time went on, they floated further apart. But I think Schulyer was the only one hanging onto the motor.

[BunnySlippers]

Oddly enough, Schulyer’s doctor said he was never delusional yet, later in the story, is quoted as saying, “I think he is aware of what happened to his friends.”

I think he was not suffering from hypothermia like the others as he was mostly sitting out of the water.

[Krankor]

I wonder if they played “King of the Hill” and Schuyler won.

[Richard Kimball]

I know it's cold-blooded to post this, but it's the sad, simple truth:

[Prince of Space]

It's so sad. Bruce Cooper is a sportscaster here in Phoenix and from what I hear, he's a really nice guy. Started out covering the local high school games when my daughter was in high school 10 years ago, then moved up from there.

Prayers for the families....