No matter how fit you are, and no matter how good of a swimmer you consider yourself to be, everyone is in danger from drowning. Today, we’ll take a look at the recent tragic death of 24-year-old Michael Cammett, who wrestled on the New Jersey independent wrestling scene as “Golden Boy.” He died in an apparent drowning. Additionally, we’ll take a look at the tragic death of former WWE star Shad Gaspard, who drowned in Los Angeles while saving his son.
Both of these tales are upsetting and deeply sad. For the rest of us, these stories shine a powerful light on how everyone is in danger from drowning.
Michael “Golden Boy” Cammett
As mentioned above, the first of two sad stories we are discussing today is the recent death of 24-year-old Michael Cammett. Michael was a professional wrestler who performed under the name “Golden Boy.” Recently, he had put wrestling aside to pursue his education.
Cammett and his friends went rafting in a pair of tethered inflatable rafts. According to reports, he jumped into the river and did not resurface. Later, authorities discovered Michael’s body. He was one of three people who perished during this event.
Shad Gaspard
Shad Gaspard, another athlete at the peak of health, sadly drowned on May 17th, 2020. Gaspard was a former WWE star. One day, he went swimming with his son. Unfortunately, an unexpected rip tide took them by surprise. Both the father and child were put in grave danger.
Here’s a social media comment from Duane “The Rock” Johnson about the tragic event.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAa4RMGH_ji/?hl=en
“Shad drowned in the ocean, but not before instructing lifeguards to save his son first. That’s the love of a father.”
Everyone is in Danger from Drowning
These two horrifying events show that everyone is in danger from drowning. It doesn’t matter how strong you may be, you will never be stronger than the open water. Accidents can, and often do, happen… even to athletes.
Choosing Where to Swim is Key
When it comes to swimming safety, knowing is half the battle. Being aware of any and all potential drowning hazards could save a life. To this point, it is best to only swim with other people or where a lifeguard is on duty. Being watched by a professional attentive lifeguard is critical. Using active supervision, a trained lifeguard can spot potential dangers like swimmers who are in trouble. They can also spring into action, perform CPR and summon help when needed.
That said, you should never rely on lifeguards alone. Taking responsibility for your own safety should be paramount. That’s where these next tips enter the picture.
Swimming Lessons
Beyond ensuring the presence of external help, knowing how to swim is crucial. One thing that really needs to be emphasized is that it’s never too late to learn to swim. Drowning happens more quickly than most people think. Enrolling in swimming lessons will greatly reduce the risk of drowning for both children and adults.
Extra Danger in Open Water
Beyond this, swimming in open water adds extra danger. In addition to basic swimming competency, it demands a separate skillset beyond the swimming pool. Again, everyone is in danger from drowning, and some places are more dangerous than others. For safety’s sake, it pays to know how to recognize dangerous water conditions, such as choppy waves. You should also be trained in what to do should you get caught in a rip current – that is, to swim parallel to the shore until you can swim free.
Learn how a pool safety fence can help prevent accidental drowning if you own a swimming pool.
