Month: May 2015
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Classmates mourn 12th grade student who drowned near Lillington
Hours after divers recovered the body of a missing 18-year-old swimmer from a lake near Lillington, his classmates honored the soon-to-be graduate. Around 5:45 p.m. Monday, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office said Justice Clark and three friends were swinging on a rope swing at the lake when they began calling for help. “A group of…
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National Black Heritage Swim Meet Held in Cary
It was a full house at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary this weekend, but the event was no ordinary swim competition. The National Black Heritage Championship swim meet celebrates the culture of African Americans and other groups in swimming. The meet attracts swim teams from all over the country, including teams from as far…
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Swimmer’s Death in Florida Brings New Attention to Rip Current Dangers
The death of a swimmer this Memorial Day weekend in Florida has drawn new attention to the dangers of rip currents. One person drowned Sunday after he was pulled from the surf in Daytona Beach, in front of an unguarded lifeguard tower. Beach-goers nearby tried to revive him. “We tried to keep his head up, and then…
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Swimming safety stressed at Valley pools
Memorial Day weekend means many of the outdoor pools are open for the summer. But according to the Red Cross, more than half of all kids can’t perform basic safety skills in the water. So how do you keep your child safe at the pool? Nicole Braun always keeps an eye on her daughter Ronnie…
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Air Force man dies in Cebu open water swimming competition
Tragedy struck an open-water swimming competition in Cebu province over the weekend when a master sergeant of the Philippine Air Force died while participating in the activity. Eduardo Oriondo, 54, lost consciousness and drowned while taking part in the Olango Challenge, an open water swimming competition, on Saturday, GMA Cebu’s Vic Serna reported Monday. Oriondo…
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What lifeguards want parents to know before heading to the pool
The answer can be summed up in three words: Watch your children. Don’t rely on lifeguards. On a busy day at many pools there are easily 20 children for every lifeguard. Don’t count on water wings also known as swimmies- those inflatable rings that go around a child’s arm. They are NOT lifesaving devices. “A…
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Baby hippo take a swim
On Thursday, baby hippo Devi made a big splash with visitors at the San Diego Zoo. The 8-week-old hippo, who was born to mom Funani in late March, is beginning to venture out to the deepest part of the 150,000 gallon pool, now that her mom isn’t as protective of her. Due to the protective…
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‘Swim at your own risk’ may soon be a thing of the past
Certified lifeguards were eliminated from almost all state owned beaches back in 2008. Since then, six people have drowned. Senator Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry) is now working to revive legislation that would restore lifeguards at beaches on state properties. See ABC27
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High school swimming champion became a role model for what he did out of the pool
When it comes to boys’ high school swimming in Colorado, there is no one faster in the 100-yard backstroke than Jack Thorne. He just racked up his third consecutive state championship for Thompson Valley High School in Loveland. He did it by breaking his own state record in the process. But what makes his story…