My son almost drowned today

[Guest Alana]

We were at the beach and he was along the water edge with my sister (13y/o). I started to get nervous and had the prompting to have them come in. They couldn't hear me, so I handed over the baby to my brother and said I needed to go over to them. When I was about 30 feet away my sister turned her back for a moment and my son started to chase the retreating wave out... right as a new wave was coming in right behind it(usually one breaks, goes out, a new one breaks, goes out etc but occasionally it seems to skip a wave or even have a two waves practically on top of each other... this was one of those right on top of each other). I'm yelling for him to stop, he doesn't hear me, my sister is distracted, next thing I know he's down, under the water. I'm running and the next 15 seconds were so horrible. I couldn't see him under the water. It gets deep very fast here, he's a small kid, the water's strong. I'm thinking, 'he went down right there, he still has to be under there somewhere...' I'm running into the water with all my clothes on and going as hard and fast as I can but the water is so hard to run in. I'm screaming for my sister to grab him. She's confused. I scream to grab him again, still running, she looks, can't see him, then he pops up for a second, and is back under (the water was only about 2 1/2 feet deep at this point, but when it's moving and foamy white it's strong and he couldn't stand... it tumbles you underneath it). I scream again to grab him, she goes for him and we both got there at the same time. I'm so thankful we got to him in time. In about 10 more seconds he would have been gone, pulled out. I'm so thankful I had the prompting I had to go to them. If it had happened from where I was first standing, there's no way I wouldn't have made it in time. It was horrible, but I'm so thankful he's ok and he understands why I'm always telling him to not turn his back on the waves and my sister realizes you can't turn your back and I realize that 13 year olds are still kids themselves.

Edited January 23, 2011 by Alana

[slamjet]

Oh Alana! How fortunate you and your child are! You must still be shaking from the experience. I can't imagine having anything like that happen. Thank goodness you are able to listen and discern that voice that kept your child safe.

[mightynancy]

What a frightening experience! I'm glad it turned out the way it did.

[pam]

Scary scary. So glad it turned out the way it did and not worse.

[Backroads]

Oh my. I'm a lifeguard and the idea of drowning just terrifies me. I'm so glad it ended as it did.

[Suzie]

and I realize that 13 year olds are still kids themselves.

Oh yes, one of my friends invited me to dinner some time ago and we didn't have anyone to watch our kids, she said she invited several other couples to this dinner and had her 13 year old girl and 12 year old boy in another house taking care of all the kids (including a 1 year old). I politely declined the invitation.

Glad to hear your son is safe.

[Bini]

Glad to hear everything is okay. But wow, close call.

[Guest mirancs8]

My goodness that must have been so scary. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Glad that all worked out well.

[Traveler]

My brother drowned within a few months after returning from his mission. There were many things said at his funeral - but one question has remained unanswered. Not completely unanswered because I have had some impressions but I still wonder - can a good person be called home (heaven) before their “time”.

The Traveler

[pam]

My brother drowned within a few months after returning from his mission. There were many things said at his funeral - but one question has remained unanswered. Not completely unanswered because I have had some impressions but I still wonder - can a good person be called home (heaven) before their “time”.

The Traveler

You might want to start a thread on that as to not take away from Alana's thread.

[talisyn]

Terrifying. I'm glad your family is ok!

[Guest]

What an amazing testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost. We're glad to know your son is ok. And yes, 13 year-olds are not that responsible yet, but I can see myself - at 40 - doing something like your 13 year-old did - just turn your back for a second and that's all it takes. So, it can be completely possible that the event wouldn't change had she been 40...

[Backroads]

So I have to ask: How are you all feeling today? Especially you and your son? Still shaken up?

[kolpaquelds]

I remember was watching a general conference or something like that, and a guy was telling a story how his little daughter drowned, and was telling it like it wasn't such a big deal lol I understand he showed a great example of how much we need to trust God and accept all that is provided, good and bad. But still it was very weird that he was telling the story how he daughter drowned like he was telling a story going to the gas station and buying a snickers.

(just something i wanted to add, came to my mind) anyone remembers that? it was about a year and half ago..

[Backroads]

I remember was watching a general conference or something like that, and a guy was telling a story how his little daughter drowned, and was telling it like it wasn't such a big deal lol I understand he showed a great example of how much we need to trust God and accept all that is provided, good and bad. But still it was very weird that he was telling the story how he daughter drowned like he was telling a story going to the gas station and buying a snickers.

(just something i wanted to add, came to my mind) anyone remembers that? it was about a year and half ago..

It's a part of public speaking and human nature. I can tell about horrible things in the past with a very casual attitude. It's no longer affecting me. Also, no one really wants to see unintelligible displays of tears from a speaker. It's distracting and can make people even feel cold.

[kolpaquelds]

Probably shouldn't have mentioned that about his daughter in his speech, if that's the case. But obviously he wanted to show off how much he trust the Lord, using his drowned daughter. Sounds very very harsh, i don't mean to be like this and say things like that, but i have no other way to describe that speech. Showing off + providing good example, using a very harsh method.

[Backroads]

I don't think it's necessarily harsh. It was a personal example, but he didn't want to be gushy, he wanted to deliver a speech.

I'd be careful about making assumptions about anyone's intentions. You don't know what he was thinking.

[kolpaquelds]

Right right. It was just plain weird though. But maybe he had a fever or something else. Better not to judge, right.

[kolpaquelds]

But that sucks. A poor little girl got drowned because dad has trust in the Lord and wasn't watching her too well at the beach.

[Backroads]

But that sucks. A poor little girl got drowned because dad has trust in the Lord and wasn't watching her too well at the beach.

That's a horrible thing to say. Did he say he wasn't watching her? Did he say he was letting God worry about her instead of being a responsible parent? I highly highly doubt it. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. The man was simply expressing faith in God.

I can't believe you would be so cold-hearted as to criticize what you know nothing about and make a joke out of a tragedy.

[kolpaquelds]

Thank you, my mistake.

[MichaelCraig]

Glad your son is ok. I think we all, even adults should have someone with us when we swim especially in big bodies of water like the ocean. There are so many unseen things like rip tide and the creatures like jelly fish that could cause very serious problems if the person was highly alergic. Not to mention the many things that can happen like diving and hitting our head enough to knock us out or make us so dizzy we loose our balance and all, you know? My uncle had a form of epilepsy that caused him to doze off even when standing sometimes. My grandmother warned him hundreds of times about going fishing alone but that was his love and passion. In 1996 it happened. Another fisherman was a little distance away on the rocks and said he saw him, turned his back to bait his hook and when he turn back around my uncle was gone. He looked around and then called the 911. It was too late but if my uncle would have had someone with him there is a very high chance it would have turned out diifferent. We never know when our time is upon us and when it is, nothing will stop His will.