tragic and odd

[Home Cookin']

Very sad story follows. But also odd--how would CO build up in an open boat? Maybe she was curled up in a corner or something napping, but that wouldn't explain falling out. Maybe too close to an idling motor? Maybe sitting on a Euro style transom? Outside the "fence" on a party barge?

And I hate to think this way but I will when there's real danger--if a boat is manufactured so this can happen with ordinary use, the manufacturer may have a big problem, along with everyone who bought that same boat.




Garrett girl, 8, dies after falling off boat


HUNTINGTON, Ind. (AP) - An 8-year old Garrett girl has died after becoming unconscious and falling off a boat in J. Edward Roush Lake in Huntington County.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says in statement that Jesslynn Gustin was pronounced dead just after noon Monday.

Jesslynn was seated on the rear of the boat when she lost consciousness and fell off shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

A family member retrieved her less than a minute later. She was taken by helicopter to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

The DNR says carbon monoxide may have caused Jesslynn's loss of consciousness.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

 

[diezelducker]

Re: tragic and odd

Very, very sad no matter the situation. It is a tragedy to lose any youth.
My thoughts and prayers go out for her and her family.
Dean

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: tragic and odd

Yes it is tragic, I can tell you story after story of the things that happen on the open water, and they all have one thing in common, A tragic loss of a LOVED one, and its always sad to hear, Makes one think and do the best we can for safety first, people who don't spend the kind of time we do on the water as much as we can, "some" don't understand all the dangers that we do, see, or hear about. Another Tragic boating accident. Let us know how the autopsy turned out, C.O, Lack of food, or just the heat.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: tragic and odd

Tragic. A number of things could be the cause. Sitting on the swim deck with the motor running. CO poisoning can also be cumulative over the course of the day. Could have been going back and forth from the tube and the back of the boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: tragic and odd

Wavenbye, I agree with your comments but have to add, that accidents and mishaps can and do occur to the most experienced, prepared and knowledgable. Indeed, once an "expert" believes he has it all covered, fate will humble him, sometimes sharply.

When I come home from a trip to even the most familiar settings I reflect on something new I learned that day. If I can't think of anything, I know I missed something.

Anyway, on this one, I don't know that I'd be likely to see any follow-up, but I'd be interested to know of other instances of CO injuries above deck. For example, I didn't know it was cumulative and thought that fresh air would remedy any minor or short-term exposure.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: tragic and odd

Homecookin, fresh air will remedy CO exposure. But it's not instant so if you getting high levels of CO you must move to fresh air and preferably stay there. You have to have enough O2 to replace the CO. So if you continually expose yourself to CO then it will build up in yuour system until you recieve enough O2 to replace it. Don't know the truth of this but I have heard that tubes and knee boards are the worse because they put you on the level with the exhaust.

 

[LongLine]

Re: tragic and odd

It's possible if it was a smokey 2 cycle outboard that was idling and a slight wind was blowing fumes at her. A seated 8 yr old is not that tall. All in all very tragic.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: tragic and odd

Wavenbye, I agree with your comments but have to add, that accidents and mishaps can and do occur to the most experienced, prepared and knowledgable. Indeed, once an "expert" believes he has it all covered, fate will humble him, sometimes sharply.

Yes I Agree with what you are saying fully!! Most of the boating accidents that I hear about are mostly due to HUMAN error, 90% percent of the time its people who only get out for one week a year for their vacation and drink, People who own boats but doesn't make them a boater, And believe me I understand that even an experienced boater can also have boating accidents, I hit a big rock due to high water and could have sunk my own boat, thankfully I didn't rip a hole in my hull, I was very lucky to be able to putt away and load her up so Yes I fully agree!!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: tragic and odd

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I took "sitting on the rear of the boat" to mean on a platform or splash well. I figured that if it would have said IN the rear that would mean in a back seat. and in a seating position IN the rear would almost be impossible to fall out. But ON the rear would be very easy to fall out. I have never heard of CO posioning from being in the boat. When I lived in AZ I seen this all the time. People sit on the platform and idle around the lake. Most of them were jets and I guess the people thought they were safe because theres no prop, but they were right above the exhaust.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: tragic and odd

Most new boats have stickers that show how this works on them...big warning stickers. The vacuum created as you move forward sucks the Co2 over the back sundeck and into the lower regions of the cockpit areas. Slow speed cruising is bad for this, particularly if there is a tail wind. I came home one day after a beautiful day on the water, with a blinding headache. I believe this also was a result of C02 poisoning, as shortly after getting home I started feeling better. I was trolling at low speed most of the day.

Sad story indeed, and it may not have been a smokey two stroke, as the captain (driver) would notice this and alter course for some fresh air. Most I/O's however have a very 'clean' exhaust that you may not notice while travelling around.

Ian