Interview / 2 drownings out of 3 shifts worked

Interview went well. Seems as tho' everyone felt their interview went well. We sit, and we wait. Phone will ring soon enuf to say yay or nay to a promotion. Did what I could, so nothing else but wait for awhile.

Another drowning yesterday, right around the corner from "spitting caves". This time at the "point" right next to China Walls one of my favorite surf spots. Right at dusk, so light was precious in the beggining. Victim had been down in the water (under) for 10 min. by the time we got there. The crew from HK station got there 5 min before us. So there was a chance, but none of the witness' could give a accurate spot as to where she was last seen.

17 y/o girl from Colorado. Visiting relatives. With friends at the jump off area by the wall at Portlock point. The surf was running about 3-4 ft Hawaiian Scale, ('bout 6-8 foot faces) The jump area she seems to have gone in at is too far in for anyone with knowledge of the spot to have gone in at. The right area would be about 20 yards further out towards the ocean. The wave breaks, and refracts in toward the wall inside that 20 yd area. So if you are trying to scramble up the cliff, (10 ft high) and a wave comes, you are toast. Anyone who has been there before would know this, so all I can guess is that the people she was with were not aware, and that cost her her life.

Part of the rescue problem was the witness' inability to give a consistent location as to where she was last seen. This wasted valuable time spent searching a larger area than absolutely necessary. Traumatic, yes, but assitance could have made a difference, after 10 minutes, this was body recovery only. The helicopter & rescue guys spotted her about 30 yds inside of where she was last seen. 5 ft deep of water, her hair had wrapped around a coral head, and trapped her body on the bottom, causing her more injury after death.

Any loss hurts. The worst is what if, and just maybe. I cant what if myself to death about it. I would go nuts. It is tragic that this happened, the worst is, common sense, and thinking before you act, could have prevented it.

Said it before, and I will say it again -

If you cant handle the worst possible thing that could happen to you out in the ocean, and you doubt your abilities in the conditions that the ocean shows, DONT GO OUT.

Yes, a tragic loss of life, but there was also about 15 others risking their lives to make a hopeful rescue.