odd time signatures - Latest Comments in In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Ken — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:55:54 -0000

What a tragic story! What makes it even more tragic is that Walton County evidently learned nothing from this tragedy or the countless #'s of others who have lost their lives on their beaches. They say they can't afford life guards for their beaches and from what it appears to me they make very little noise over the dangerous rip currents on their beaches that have claimed so many lives. I guess educating people or making them aware of the dangers would hurt their bottom line as tourists might choose to travel to beaches less dangerous. I can attest to the fact they have learned nothing as I was just in Mirimar Beach with my family on vacation the week of March 9-16th. On Tuesday, March 15th, my 15-year old son had entered the water with three of his friends, tw0 17-year olds and a 19-year old (males). All four of these boys are excellent swimmers and swim competitively. I entered the water about 10 minutes later and as I dove in I noticed a strong rip current trying to take my legs out from under me. Growing up in Florida and knowing what to do in a rip current I began letting it carry me out and prepared to swim parallel to the beach to get out of it. As I crested a wave, two girls, about 18 years old, appeared and both were struggling to get back to shore and terrified. One of them asked me if I could help them get back to shore as they couldn't make it and both were exhausted and in trouble. I yelled for the older of the four boys to come help me with the other girl and we started making our way parallel and towards the shore. I looked back and saw my 15-year old son fighting against the current to get back to shore and although he made it he was exhausted. When I walked past the concession hut where they rent chairs, umbrellas, etc. I told him they needed to warn swimmers of the dangers of the rip current that was present and told him what had just happened. His comment to me was, "yeah, there's a rip there but I've seen worse". i told him that there is no doubt in my mind had we not assisted those girls out of the surf there would have been two fatalities on that beach. He kind of shrugged his shoulders and went on about his business. My family and the other two families on vacation with us moved back down the beach in front of our condo where the water seemed more calm. It should be noted that NO red flags were flying that day to warn of potential strong/dangerous currents. About 3:20 pm that same day my friend and I decided to go in and do some body surfing. As we entered the water I dove into a wave and when I came out on the other side of the wave I noticed a adult male floating face down in the water about 100 feet from me. My friend saw him about the same time and yelled out to ask me if he was okay. At that moment my friends young son came over a wave on a boogie board and when the wave ran out from under him he sunk down in the swell and bumped into the man who did not move. I knew then there was something wrong and swam to the man and turned him over to find him unresponsive. I immediately started pulling him towards shore with the assistance of my friend while calling out for help. The man, who never regained conciousness on the beach was taken to a local hospital and at the writing of this comment we still do not know if he made it (highly unlikely as he had probably been in the water close to 20 minutes when I found him). There was an article on the local news that night as a reporter was riding with a county deputy when they arrived on the beach. There have been no updates on this man's condition and it almost seems as like they do not put much media attention on these types of tragedys, probable because it's not good for their bottom line. I grew up in Florida and I love it there but when the profits from tourism on the Emerald Coast take precedence over the price of a human life I draw the line. We had several small children with us on this trip....we were never told of the dangers of rip currents in this area....and we are fortunate that we didn't have an incident with our children. Wake up Walton County!!

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Larry Holder — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:54:31 -0000

It has been several years ago now, but I came close to drowning at Gulf Shores. There was a V-current (waves were coming in and going out diagonally, instead of the normal straight to shore). Just floating around, it was hard to notice that you were slowly being carried further out than you meant to go. I was floating on my back in what was chest-deep water. When I decided to stand back up, I could not touch bottom. I will tell you a certain amount of panic set in. I decided to swim on my back, which takes less energy, but decided I was being drawn out quicker than my swimming was taking me back in. I decided to switch and swim full strength as long as I could, then try touching down. Thankfully my direction of swimming likely took me out of any rip current I may have been in. The biggest panic was not my own mortality -- it was of leaving my family without a husband and a father. It took me a long time to get over my near-drowning, although I will never forget it. As life continues, if I ever feel depressed, I remind myself that every day is a new gift, and that I would not be here at all had I drowned at Gulf Shores. I am an Eagle Scout with the Lifesaving merit badge, and an average swimmer. But my ignorance of the water at Gulf Shores nearly did me in. I thank the Lord I had a second chance. For those who have not made it, my prayers are with the families they left behind.

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Karoli — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:48:31 -0000

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.

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Jim Lasswell — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:02:46 -0000

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.

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Melanie Brindley — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:56:25 -0000

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

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Joe D'Agostino — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:39:04 -0000

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

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Lt. Jim McCrady — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:50:12 -0000

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

Re: In Memory of Larry LaMotte: Be Safe at the Beach

Wendy C. Fries — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:51:05 -0000

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