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Coast Guard issues water safety reminder
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Posted on Oct 08 2008
[B]HAGATNA, Guam[/B]—The U.S. Coast Guard is reminding swimmers to take all possible precautions when taking to water to ensure their safety.
This came about after the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Tinian Department of Public Services rescuers searched 15 hours this past weekend for a 70-year-old swimmer who had been reported missing by friends.
The Coast Guard said the swimmer had decided to swim across the Saipan-Tinian Channel without filing a float plan, any support crew, or any reasonable precautions, “and then kept swimming even after rescuers arrived.”
[I][Editor’s Note: The swimmer was Jim Bell, who was replicating a feat he had achieved to swim the Saipan-Tinian channel.][/I]The search and rescue response cost approximately $25,000, according to the Coast Guard, and kept units busy and potentially unable to respond quickly to genuine emergencies.
“This was beyond irresponsible and inconsiderate, this was reckless and negligent,” said Coast Guard Capt. Thomas Sparks, of the swimmer’s lack of preparedness. “This was an exorbitant and totally unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”
Sparks is the Coast Guard’s senior officer in Guam and Commander of Sector Guam.
He said friends of the swimmer became concerned and notified the Coast Guard’s 24-hour command center at Apra Harbor. The Coast Guard planned a search, which included an eight-person crew from Naval Helicopter Combat Squadron Two Five and personnel from Tinian DPS.
The Coast Guard is reminding mariners of obvious dangers and considerations associated with swimming the Saipan-Tinian channel or any major shipping lane without taking proper precautions.
“Swimmers are at risk from commercial and recreational traffic, fatigue and dehydration. Also, rescuers may be placed in harm’s way for situations that could have been avoided. The Coast Guard strongly recommends open-ocean swimmers file a plan with friends and use appropriate support crew, including an escort vessel,” the Coast Guard said. [B][I](USCG)[/I][/B]
