July 25, 2024 Close Call On The Water

Barrman stood in the middle of the pontoon boat and tried to relax. After all, it wasn’t his boat and he wasn’t the captain.

But he still felt a tumble in his stomach while the 20-foot pontoon boat bounced in the wind and the waves. Christina Lake was rolling with a steady wind from the south. Ricky manned the helm and the rest of the bachelor party was rolling in the booze and celebration.

Robin was getting married on the coming Saturday and the boys were out on the lake celebrating the last days of his bachelorhood. Robin’s Dad, Brett, was celebrating even more than his son. Barrman was happy to be included, yet he still felt a sense of responsibility being on the water. 

Maybe it was instinct or his inner sense of keeping people safe. It was also the fact he’d been nominated as a designated driver. But Barrman left the drinking to the rest of them. 

They were drifting in the middle of the lake when things went sideways.

Barrman heard the splash. He glanced over and saw Brett in the water. No one else seemed to notice him. Right away Barrman had a sense of danger. Brett wasn’t the best swimmer and there he was intoxicated and in the water. 

“Hey Ricky, I think we should keep an eye on Brett. He’s in the water.” Barrman watched Robin’s dad flounder in the rising waves.

“Right, I see him.” Ricky glanced back over the stern of the boat. 

Brett’s head dropped below the waves. It was apparent he was struggling to stay afloat. Barrman stood and debated what to do.

Then Ricky dove in the water. 

That’s when chaos broke out. Barrman reached into the back of the boat and tossed a life jacket to Ricky. But the wind took it away, and Ricky struggled to hold Brett above the surging water. 

Another splash rocked the boat and in went Don.  Don was a strong swimmer and despite the fact he’d had a couple of bevy’s he was able to assist Ricky in lifting Brett’s head above the waves. 

Barrman’s hands were clammy and his heart rate soared. He watched the three figures drift further away.

“Get the boat started and over here now!” Ricky called out.

Barrman grabbed the helm and tried to fire up the engine.

It didn’t start.

Calm down, why isn’t it starting?

He stared at the controls and realized it was in gear. He pushed the shifter into neutral and fired up the motor. The three figures were drifting and Brett’s head dropped below the waves. He was in trouble, Barrman had to move the boat closer.  They needed to get the drowning man aboard before it was too late. 

Barrman eased the boat closer and managed to come up alongside the men in the water. Robin Barrman and Andy grabbed a hold of Robin’s dad and pulled. Don and Ricky pushed from in the water and with a sudden surge they had Brett on the floor of the pontoon. 

He wasn’t breathing.

Robin and Barrman had him on his stomach, staring at the unmoving figure. Barrman had recently taken first aid so he tried to remember all he’d learned. His stomach was not where he needed to be. 

“Flip him over, let’s get him breathing.” Robin and Barrman flipped Brett on his back and reached for his chest. Robin stepped back and Barrman started compressions. He never thought he’d have to use the CPR skills he’d recently been taught.

“Come on man start breathing…”

After what felt like an eternity but was only maybe thirty seconds or a minute Brett gasped and started to breathe on his own. They rolled him on his side and sat back, relief pouring through the boat.

“Well, that was too close.” Don climbed onto the pontoon boat and lay down on the floor. Exhaustion and relief flowed through him.

Ricky climbed back onboard and they all sat there breathing. It was a moment no one ever wants to experience on a boat. Thankfully tragedy was avoided. 

They cruised back to the dock and returned the boat an hour early. Everyone felt relief at the fact they were back on solid ground. Ricky and Barrman drove the boys back to the campsite and the celebration continued into the night. It was a celebration of a future that would shine beyond an afternoon on the water.

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This is a true story from a friend’s stag party. A reminder of how important it is to remain safe on the water. All names have been changed to protect the innocent.