Real Possible Charge of “STUPIDITY”

The following article written and posted by Andrea Houston tells the story of an 18 year old girl and two men – one 21 and the other 51 – in a very dangerous situation in the fast moving river in Lakefield – just north of Peterborough.

As you read it you will see that no charges were laid. However one real possible charge is that of “STUPIDITY”. DUH!

Boating trio 'lucky to be alive': police
DANGER ON THE WATER: Trio dives overboard as fast current takes small motor boat over Lakefield dam
Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER

Three people are "lucky to be alive" after their boat drifted dangerously toward a dam in Lakefield yesterday afternoon, only to be saved by witnesses who jumped into the frigid water, said officials.

Two men, aged 51 and 21, and one woman, 18, left the Lakefield Marina in a small motor boat for an afternoon boat ride at about noon, said city police Sgt. Dan MacLean.
Shortly after leaving the marina, the boaters started having motor troubles and their boat began drifting toward the Lakefield dam, he said.

They couldn't get the boat started, then discovered the current was moving much too fast, said Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield fire chief Gord Jopling, "There was major, major water flow, very fast," he said. "It's very dangerous."

Seeing the approaching dam, the boaters made a split-second decision and jumped overboard, MacLean said.

"They made a decision and decided to swim for shore," he said. "The boat went over the dam once they jumped out."

Two citizens on the west side of the river, who saw the distressed boaters jump, dove into the water and helped the woman to shore, he said.

"They were just in the area and saw the potentially dangerous situation taking place," he said.
The other two boaters swam to the pier and were helped out by eight to 10 other citizens who were watching, he said.

"(The boaters) are lucky to be alive," Jopling said. "They weren't the most aware boaters."

MacLean would not tell the public the names of any of the quick-thinking bystanders or the boaters.

All the people involved are going to be recommended for commendation for our Knights of Columbus Police Appreciation Night next year," MacLean said.

None of the boaters had serious injuries, he said. They were treated by an ambulance on scene.

MacLean said he didn't know if the boaters were wearing life jackets.

No charges have been laid against any of the boaters, he said.

Jopling said the incident should be a warning to anyone venturing out on the water this weekend.

"Right now the water is very dangerous," he stressed. "Don't go anywhere near the fast-flowing water. Keep kids and boats away."

My reflection…
This story is a lot closer to home than many. The 18 year old gal lives next door to us. She and the 21 year old have a cute little boy(about 2 years old) that is now walking and jabbering to all the world around him.

The 2 year old just about lost his mom and dad in a stupid boating accident.

The motor either wouldn’t start or died in mid stream. The 51 year old owned it and for some reason it wasn’t in very good shape… but took it out very near one of the most dangerous spots going along the river.

The dam that they launched near was barely holding the rush of the mighty river run off.

Today the boat is below the dam and the water is crashing over it – pounding it to bits.
Last night my neighbour, the two year old’s great Grandpa, shook his head as he told me what had happened. He is the one that offered the charge of “STUPIDITY”.

This again points to the need for all of us to be careful.

I love canoeing… but I also love not being stupid about it. I need to know where I am going, how I will get home, and if there is trouble – how will I get help. That is simply common sense.

I am happy for my neighbors that nothing worse happened. I am thankful – very thankful!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1567791

Correction
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1568929