Dolphins can swim

[spetro]

I'll move this from Dock Talk to Boat Safety when it falls to second page

from Fox News
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A former NFL player was treated for hypothermia at a Florida hospital Thursday after he was forced to swim nine miles to shore after falling out of his fishing boat.

WPBF reported that Rob Konrad had gone on a deep-sea fishing trip in the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday and was attempting to land a catch when he fell out of his 36-foot vessel. U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Mark Barney told the Palm Beach Post that the boat was set on autopilot and drifted away from Konrad as he tried to get back on board.

Konrad's friends contacted the Coast Guard when he failed to return from his excursion and a helicopter crew was dispatched in a fruitless effort to locate him. At around 4:30 a.m. local time, Thursday, Barney told the paper, the Coast Guard was preparing another search when they were contacted by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies, who told them that Konrad had been located.

WPBF reported that Konrad had managed to swim to shore in Palm Beach and had flagged down a police officer. The station reported that Konrad was barefoot and clad in only his underwear. The former Miami Dolphins fullback later told police that he had seen the lights of the Coast Guard helicopter overahead, but the crew had not spotted him.

Konrad played college football at Syracuse University, where he was the last player to wear the No. 44 previously worn by Syracuse greats Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, and Floyd Little. He later played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Dolphins before retiring after the 2004 season. He currently runs a financial consulting business.

[Mike Cork]

That is a serious will to survive... Nine miles Thankfully, even though cold enough to drop core body temperature, that the water was warm enough to allow him to make it....

Doesn't say anything about a floatation device? I don't imagine he was wearing one? Lucky

[Princeton_Man]

That's amazing! I don't give a second thought to going bass fishing alone. Of course, when I'm running I've got the kill switch lanyard attached, wearing my jacket, etc. But 9 miles out in the Atlantic, alone, boat on autopilot, and trying to wrestle fish??? Do many people do that? I'm not sure I'd even take a joy ride that far out alone. -Jim

[spetro]

Ya know....If our hero was a UB member AND TOOK and PASSED a boat safety course, he would have made it to the UB THREAD OF HONOR!!!

We have over 100 UB members that have done just that!  Are you as a UB member eligible to be on the THREAD OF HONOR???
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http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=8194.0

[Princeton_Man]

Ya know....If our hero was a UB member AND TOOK and PASSED a boat safety course, he would have made it to the UB THREAD OF HONOR!!!

We have over 100 UB members that have done just that!  Are you as a UB member eligible to be on the THREAD OF HONOR???
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http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=8194.0

Just added myself. If "our hero" was a UB member took and passed a boat safety course, he probably would have come back to shore in his boat.  -Jim

[Pferox]

That's amazing! I don't give a second thought to going bass fishing alone. Of course, when I'm running I've got the kill switch lanyard attached, wearing my jacket, etc. But 9 miles out in the Atlantic, alone, boat on autopilot, and trying to wrestle fish??? Do many people do that? I'm not sure I'd even take a joy ride that far out alone. -Jim

Actually, yes.  Heck on the Gulf Coast they go that far out in Kayaks!  To many, it is just like going to the lake and catch a few bass.  Things like auto pilot and other automated or assisted devices have made it much easier to go solo. 

I bet our hero has done it many times before and came home safe and sound.  All it takes is one of those few split seconds where someone got complacent.

Glad he made it home alive, hopefully he will recover.  I know he won't be happy with the recovery and tow bill for his boat.  Maybe he will learn from it.

[coldfront]

That is a serious will to survive... Nine miles Thankfully, even though cold enough to drop core body temperature, that the water was warm enough to allow him to make it....

Doesn't say anything about a floatation device? I don't imagine he was wearing one? Lucky

BVD's aren't some kind of PFD? 

glad he made it...9 miles is a long way...and not sure what water temps are this time of year...but even 60's are awful rough.

[spetro]

At nine miles out he lost sight of the land and could only see high rises and antennas. This is one lucky dude.  They found him in palm beach.  Bet he fell overboard near miami 50 miles south

[Bigwrench]

Wonder if they recovered his boat ? Dang lucky guy for sure !

[spetro]

bet the boat is up near savanna by now