DISQUS

Wendy C. Fries · 2 years ago

Thank you Sandee. Sharing your pain and your eloquence leaves us with a lasting message -- and has, I'm sure, already saved lives.

Thank you,

Wendy

Lt. Jim McCrady · 2 years ago

Sandee,

I do not know if you remember me, but we spoke on the phone once immediately after you family's tragic loss. I was also on "Good Morning America" with you the following week. I just wanted you to know that we, here in the United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region, have never stopped fighting to stop the useless and preventable drownings that occur in rip currents.

To this day, I can never get through telling the story of your husband's passing without getting emotional. Two weeks ago I was asked to do another interview with ABC News for GMA again. Unfortunately, it was because of another rip current drowning on a beach without surf-trained lifeguards. And as I prepared for the interview, and read the news accounts of this drowning, I realized that the similarities were uncanny to the events that transpired almost four years ago to the day with Larry.

A father swimming into a rip current to save his 13-year-old son. The boy is rescued, but the father dies in the process.

And as irony would have it, the cameraman and the interviewer for the ABC News crew both knew Larry personally.

I don't know if you know this or not, but your husband's drowning has had a tremendous positive impact on beach safety in our region. It is because of the national news his death garnered that we have been able successfully help implement ocean rescue programs in South Walton County, Destin, Okaloosa County, and help upgrade the service provided in Pensacola Beach. Hundreds of people have been saved at these beaches since 2003.

But as you know, there is always work to do. Since May 3rd, we have had 15 ocean drowning in our region mostly due to rip currents. One yesterday near Gulf Shores, Alabama, and one the day before in Destin, Florida. It never ends, and the interviews keep coming. But Larry LaMotte has not been forgotten, and his life continues to impact people that have never had the pleasure of meeting him. Like me.

Jim McCrady
Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Lieutenant
President United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region
Work: (954)828-4577 Cell: (954)804-1599
FAX: (954)467-0238
Work E-mail: JMcCrady@fortlauderdale.gov
Home E-mail: JMcCrady5@comcast.net

Joe D'Agostino · 2 years ago

Sandee, I am the Beach Safety Division Chief for the Destin Fire Control District. On the day of your husbands tragic death I was working as a lifeguard for the City of Fort Lauderdale. After several conversations with Jim McCrady I decided to get involved. We indeed did have another fatality almost four years to the day and, while tragic, so much has improved. Since our inception we have had only two drowning deaths. We have documented over 300 rescues / lives saved and made over 2,000 assits. This week we began our very first Jr. Lifeguard program that is aimed to educate both our local and visiting youth about the dangers of the Gulf and what the job duties are of our lifeguards. Our community continues to work hard to prevent any further drownings. So as long as our sand is white and the Gulf waters green, Larry Lamotte will never be forgotten on our beach.

Joseph H. D'Agostino
Destin Fire Control District
Beach Safety Division Chief
848 Airport Road
Destin FL 32541
Business: (850)-837-8413
Fax: (850)-837-6715
Cell:(850)-685-0408
destinbeachsafety@yahoo.com

Melanie Brindley · 2 years ago

Hello,
I am Melanie Brindley, widow of Ken Brindley, the man who tried to save Larry on that tragic day. I was not at the beach at the time of the drownings and I am not sure if I could have stopped my husband from going in to help. However, we did obey the red flags that day and kept our family out of the water all day. I believe if Ken had known how to swim out of a current perhaps he would not have drown.

Since that summer, my children, now 7 and 10, and I have returned to beaches and we are constantly aware of the flag system. I have taught my children about the dangers of rip currents and how to escape. Whenever asked about my husband's death, I always follow with a rip current safety speech. While it doens't ease my pain, it helps to see the shocked look on someone's face and hopefully they will be more aware of the dangers of the water when they vacation on a beach one day. I wish to spare the pain of someone in a hospital waiting room. Please read the warnings, obey the signs, follow your instincts even on the yellow flag days it can be too rough and change in a minute....teach your children and swim at beaches with life guards.

In His Hands,
Melanie Brindley, July 6, 2007
4600 Bay Hill Drive
Conway AR 72034

Jim Lasswell · 5 months ago

I spent 22 years as a year round lifeguard and lifeguard supervisor on Florida's west coast. In 1987 I received questions from an attorney pursuing suits against Panama City and bay County Fl for ineptitude in the way they handled safety on Pan Handle beaches. In 1991 Jim Lushine with NOAA published the results of a ten year study of Rip Currents. It wasn't until Larry Lamotte died that I heard anyone in the media make any reference to Rip Currents. In 2007; the year I left the profession a member of my own agency was quoted in the media stating that rips were unpredictable. Nonsense!
Rips, run outs, seapusses; whatever you call them are highly predictable. On shore winds of 15 mph or more almost certainly will produce them. Topography of the underwater area aids in their formation. These are called 'occasional rip currents' and real professional lifeguards will expect them in the right conditions. Then there are mechanical rip currents caused primarily by obstructions in the path of the longshore current forcing it to detour. Swim in front of professional lifeguards; there for that purpose alone and take advantage of their knowledge. Remember that water is an environment nearly as hostile to human life as space and educate yourselves and your children to the fact that a drowning is not an unpreventable act of fate.

Karoli · 5 months ago

Jim, thanks for coming and posting your thoughts. I appreciate that, and completely agree with you about water being a hostile environment. I truly hope people (and beach communities) learn about rip currents and only go to lifeguarded beaches.