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Near Tragedy at the Algonquin Dam 081706

2793 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  toothdoc
A jet skier got a little to close to the dam today. He ended up clotheslining himself by the cable that runs across the river, warning of the dam. His ski came over the dam w/o him. This was a very eerie sight to see. We werent sure what happened at first, it wasnt until a witness came over to tell us to call 911, that a guy fell off his ski and is injured.

The guy was pretty messed up with a gash on his head and you could see where the cable got him in the neck. He ended up clinging on to a cable by the gate on the west side. He was very lucky that the gate was closed. One bystander hopped the fence by the gate in order to pull him up but he couldnt reach.

The jetskier kept going over towards the dam, almost like he thought he would be safer going over. He was literally inches from visible current where the dam drops. It made for some very anxious moments. I kept yelling to him to come this way to try to get away from the dam side. He was really dazed and looked like he was going to lose consciousness. Very scary and a very helpless feeling. I think I am going to start bringing a rope with me.

The Algonquin Fire Dept and PD were there very quickly and threw the guy a line and brought him to safety. :) This guy doesnt know how lucky he is.

It still amazes me that not many people there knew the danger of the dam. I had to explain to them how dangerous it could be. Some of the people there did not realize that this guy would have been dead if he went over.
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That is very scarey. I'm glad to hear that he didn't go over and injure himself worse than he already did.
Wow, what a close call. Thanks for sharing the news with us, MrB. Hopefully everyone will be more careful out on the waters in the future.
I have been in a 911 situation with a family member and it's very scary.
(A young child fell between a doc and a boat and was dead on the doc when we finally found him. Lucky child had 2 EM doctors at the party and with CPR brought him back to life.(he was dead)..it was something to see) makes you think long and hard that the water is fun but at any time can take a life. So when you think that the life vest is just a seat cushion ...think twice....i like the idea of the rope...may save a life.

(ice breaker...just for fun comment below)

Did you happen to get it on video so we can add it to Augy's list of dumb people video... :lol:

glad he did not go over the dam......
lucky fella! glad he made it out alive. but a dumbass nonetheless.
I gotta agree with Augy on this one. First, thank God the person is ok. We all do stupid things sometimes and it is only by the grace of God that we get away with most of it.

Now i'm not familiar with the setup at the Algonquin Dam, but every other dam area i've ever seen, has all sorts of buoys and signs, etc., warning about the obvious danger ahead... THE DAM! Like the woman who sued McDonalds because the coffee was hot - COFFEE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOT and DAMS ARE DANGEROUS!!! Do I need a sign on all my windows telling my that jumping out could be harmful of fatal? Come on society!
JasonN said:
I gotta agree with Augy on this one. First, thank God the person is ok. We all do stupid things sometimes and it is only by the grace of God that we get away with most of it.

Now i'm not familiar with the setup at the Algonquin Dam, but every other dam area i've ever seen, has all sorts of buoys and signs, etc., warning about the obvious danger ahead... THE DAM! Like the woman who sued McDonalds because the coffee was hot - COFFEE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOT and DAMS ARE DANGEROUS!!! Do I need a sign on all my windows telling my that jumping out could be harmful of fatal? Come on society!
DITTO!!!
some peeps are just dumb!
Here's the news story, I especially like the part where the guy said that nobody was doing anything. There were people including me talking to the guy trying to keep him conscious. If anything the guy that jumped the fence, put the guy in more danger because he was safer holding onto the cable at the gate until professionals arrived. Him hopping the fence just brought the guy closer to the dam. Just my opinion, but everyone sees things differently. :roll:

http://archive.nwherald.com/archive...006&authorSearch=&IncludeStories=1&pubsection

Glad this guy is ok but also glad that he is gonna get fined.
Just plain stupidity.
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