Tragedy on the fork

[shorefisherman]

Man just heard a man from antioch slipped at happpy and drownd sunday mornin at around 8am. two people nearby tried to save him but his wader had already filled with water. very sorry to hear this . that tells ya the river is dangerous even when not generating!

 

[trealtree]

Sad.Prayers sent to his family. I wonder what type of waders?

 

[LA man]

wow, very sad

 

[mr.big]

been several people died in that shallow water

 

[bcunnin1]

Got to wear a wading belt. Even though I am not sure how much it will help. Scary stuff for fisherman and most of us duck hunters. Step into a deep pool and...

 

[spitndrum]

sad

 

[JA1234]

Its sad to hear something like that, thoughts for his family.


I never fished with waders until I fish that river without. That is my biggest fear. what are you suspose to do if that happens. I figure unstrap the buckles and let the flow take them off. I guess I should look into what to do should that ever happen. I have thought many times to just go without them.

 

[trealtree]

Thats why I asked the question about what type of waders he was wearing. You cannot get out of a pair of neoprene waders. But I dont think they would fill up with water like a plastic/rubber or gortex pair would.

 

[stickler]

Wearing waders has always scared me.

 

[buckhorn40]

 

[Buckblaster]

Thats why I asked the question about what type of waders he was wearing. You cannot get out of a pair of neoprene waders. But I dont think they would fill up with water like a plastic/rubber or gortex pair would.

It doesn't matter. The cold water is what kills. If you ever find yourself chest deep in the Caney or other cold water, it will absolutely take you down a notch. And that may be all it takes.

Dang skippy. At reliance in polk county in the hiwassee I stepped off in chest deep water and almost didnt make it back to shallow water, I couldnt find my way back.

 

[RUGER]

 

[trealtree]

I have been chest deep in the caney, actually I was swimming across it. I really think the waders have something to do with it. You have a good 5 minutes or so before the cold water will incapacitate imho.

 

[Tubakka]

Yeah I swim it all the time and wet waded it until it simply just got too cold...aroudn November. I say just go without until its absolutely necessary, and then get one of those lightweight PFD's that goes around your neck or belt. Always had one on. NEver had to use it, but you never know. Don't be afraid though. Fear will only make you panic should it ever arise.

 

[Tubakka]

God...it just kinda sank in. This truly is terrible. You must be careful out there. I've been stupid in my youth, but even at the ripe old age of 23 I'm beginning to realize that no fish is worth your life. Not so much for yourself [hey, Iknow some fish and have hooked some fish that were worth the risk, eheh] but those you leave behind. It's a shame, and I sincerly pray for the comfort of that family. Say....why don't someone get their info and all the tndeer guys commit a few dollars and a card and flowers? I'll do what I can where I am if someone gets the info.

 

[bowriter]

I have swum and waded the Caney many times. You can certainly survive for at least 30 minutes before hypothermia sets in. The waders is what got him.

Any more info? A Name?

Sad deal.

 

[rsimms]

From the Cookeville newspaper:

Fisherman drowns in Caney Fork River
Mary Jo Denton
Herald-Citizen Staff
Monday, Oct 13, 2008

PUTNAM COUNTY -- An Antioch man drowned while fishing in the Caney Fork River near the Happy Hollow boat ramp Sunday morning, officials said.

Roman S. Grzybowski, 51, of Brentridge Circle, Antioch, apparently stepped into a deep hole while wearing waders and wading in the river to fish, according to Putnam Sheriff's deputies and Putnam Emergency Management Agency officials.

Two brothers who were also fishing nearby made a valiant effort to save him, but were unsuccessful, says a report by Deputy Ron Harris.

It happened just before 8 a.m. Oct. 12.

The two brothers, who did not know Grzybowski, were fishing in the same area when they saw him fall, an accident later described by investigators as the result of the victim stepping into a hole underneath the water.

The waders he was wearing quickly filled with water, hampering his efforts to make it back to the water's surface, investigators said.

Nathan John Wilson, 28, and his brother, Nicholas R.T. Wilson, 30, both of Smyrna told deputies they were fishing when they noticed a man who was fishing downstream from them fall.

"We ran to his location and took off our waders and swam to him in the water," Nicholas Wilson later told Deputy Harris.

"By the time we got to him, he had stopped moving. We pulled him out of the water and began CPR. I ran back upstream to Happy Hollow ramp and called for someone to dial 911. I ran back to my brother and helped with CPR.

"After about 15 to 20 minutes of CPR, we decided to stop. Ten minutes after we stopped, paramedics arrived and called the ER and they decided there was nothing else that could be done."

Grzybowski was taken to Cookeville Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family was notified, and his daughter came to Putnam County, according to Deputy Harris. She told the deputy that her father did not know how to swim.

Besides Deputy Harris, others who worked the incident included Smith County Rescue Squad members, Putnam Rescue Squad member David Anderson, paramedics Eddie Haynes and Patrick Matthews, and Deputy Sgt. Rick Smith.

 

[bigluresonly]

Really a sad thing to hear.

 

[Buckblaster]

Really a sad thing to hear.

yep

 

[bowriter]

Well, Tribeless, I guess that answers that. It wasn't hypothermia. Seems it was the waders.

sad deal.

 

[mr.big]

gotta be carefull and know the generation scedule also,

 

[easy45]

that sucks

 

[stik]

it was also noted in the paper that he did not know how to swim.

 

[B.D.]

Say....why don't someone get their info and all the tndeer guys commit a few dollars and a card and flowers? I'll do what I can where I am if someone gets the info.

Tubs, it's rare that you and I agree on this board, but I'll second this.

Seriously, if this is done, somebody give me a heads-up and I will contribute.

bd

 

[B.D.]

it was also noted in the paper that he did not know how to swim.

I think this probably had more to do with it than the waders. Panic and cold water are a deadly combination.

I have been in over my head more than once while wearing waders, and they do not "drag you down" if you keep a cool head. The water inside the waders weighs the same as the water outside the waders, so it all equalizes. It's a little awkward to swim in waders and boots, but even a novice swimmer can dog paddle far enough in waders to reach shallow water.

The key is just not to panic. It's very, very frightening when the cold water first hits your chest and takes your breath away, but if you don't let it freak you out, you can keep your head above water just fine.

bd

 

[7mm08]

Lee Wulff proved you CANNOT drown from going under water with waders on about 40 years ago. He jumped in a hole over his head and walked out.

Problem is in really cold water like the Caney and other tailwaters the inability to breath and loss of consciousness within seconds of immersion.

It's a shame no matter how it happened.

 

[m_allison71]

it was also noted in the paper that he did not know how to swim.

I think this probably had more to do with it than the waders. Panic and cold water are a deadly combination.

I have been in over my head more than once while wearing waders, and they do not "drag you down" if you keep a cool head. The water inside the waders weighs the same as the water outside the waders, so it all equalizes.

bd

That's kinda what I was thinking. Waders or no waders if you don't know how to swim you don't know how. I'm not sure that the Caney is the right play to wade if you can't swim.

Still it is very sad. I can't even imagine what that family must be going through.

Mike

 

[Buckblaster]

Problem is in really cold water like the Caney and other tailwaters the inability to breath and loss of consciousness within seconds of immersion.

It's a shame no matter how it happened.

within seconds? I doubt it, I know from experience. I think not knowing how to swim, the waders and cold water played into effect. All of them added up, got him, not just one.

but ditto, it is a shame,

 

[Tubakka]

Um...look...inflatable PFD's anyone? Don't leave home without them. Sure they're like $120 bucks...but if he'd had one, he'd probably be out there again today fishing. I thought it was vain when my family bought one for me out of concern when they realized I was fishing so much below a TVA dam, but now, I know it was a smart thing, and I should've done it myself.

 

[Buckblaster]

Um...look...inflatable PFD's anyone? Don't leave home without them. Sure they're like $120 bucks...but if he'd had one, he'd probably be out there again today fishing. I thought it was vain when my family bought one for me out of concern when they realized I was fishing so much below a TVA dam, but now, I know it was a smart thing, and I should've done it myself.

walmart had some that yo could pull on to inflate for $35