Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned

[samhexum]

He was on a family trip.  He was 54.

[pubic_assistance]

Oh wow. HOW horrible for his family. What a terrible thing to die over something so simple as a strong tidal force.

[+ haring222]

There is a HUGE problem with african american folks not knowing how to swim.  I do volunteer work with a group home for teen boys...it took me over a year to get approval from DCFS to enroll all of the boys in swimming classes at the local Y and I had to pay for it personally out of pocket.  The first day they went, only 7 out of almost 60 kids could swim enough to keep from drowning if they fell into a pool.  These kids were panicking to even put their head under water.  

Reading this article made me freak out about the 5 or 6 times I took groups of kids out to the beach and how easily that could have gone sideways.

[BSR]

On 7/21/2025 at 3:30 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Oh wow. HOW horrible for his family. What a terrible thing to die over something so simple as a strong tidal force.

Just googled it, in the US ~100 people per year die because of rip current drowning.  Even strong swimmers drown in rip currents because they panic and try to swim against the current, which exhausts them so much they can’t swim back to shore.

Panic plays a major factor in many drowning deaths, rip current or not.  I learned how to swim in many summers of Red Cross swimming classes, but they never taught us how to stay calm and avoid panic.  I learned how to deal with water emergencies only in a Boy Scout lifesaving merit badge course.  

[+ Just Chuck]

16 hours ago, haring222 said:

I had to pay for it personally out of pocket.  The first day they went, only 7 out of almost 60 kids could swim enough to keep from drowning if they fell into a pool.  These kids were panicking to even put their head under water.  

I wanted to hit the applause icon to your post but only to this part of it. The rest is heartbreaking.

[samhexum]

On 7/21/2025 at 2:30 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Oh wow. HOW horrible for his family. What a terrible thing to die over something so simple as a strong tidal force.

 

13 hours ago, BSR said:

Just googled it, in the US ~100 people per year die because of rip current drowning.  Even strong swimmers drown in rip currents because they panic and try to swim against the current, which exhausts them so much they can’t swim back to shore.

Last week there was a story about a former minor league baseball player who was on vacation with his family who went to help some people struggling in the ocean & got pulled under & drowned.

MLB prospect-turned-cop Chase Childers dies saving ...

Anderson “Chase” Childers, 38, was vacationing with his family at Pawleys Island when a woman asked him for help rescuing ...

 

Edited July 23 by samhexum

[+ Pensant]

Sad to hear, although I didn’t know who he was until I googled him. Not a TV person.

[+ haring222]

17 hours ago, BSR said:

Just googled it, in the US ~100 people per year die because of rip current drowning.  Even strong swimmers drown in rip currents because they panic and try to swim against the current, which exhausts them so much they can’t swim back to shore.

Panic plays a major factor in many drowning deaths, rip current or not.  I learned how to swim in many summers of Red Cross swimming classes, but they never taught us how to stay calm and avoid panic.  I learned how to deal with water emergencies only in a Boy Scout lifesaving merit badge course.  

From what I understand, if you just relax and let the rip current take you where it wants to go they will actually bring you back to shore about 50% of the time....they go in big circles.  The process is sort of fascinating.  If they don't, you just have to go parallel to the shore fora bit then you can easily swim back to shore.  That said, if something was sucking me away form shore I would definitely be freaking out.  

[Luv2play]

On 7/22/2025 at 3:19 PM, haring222 said:

There is a HUGE problem with african american folks not knowing how to swim.  I do volunteer work with a group home for teen boys...it took me over a year to get approval from DCFS to enroll all of the boys in swimming classes at the local Y and I had to pay for it personally out of pocket.  The first day they went, only 7 out of almost 60 kids could swim enough to keep from drowning if they fell into a pool.  These kids were panicking to even put their head under water.  

Reading this article made me freak out about the 5 or 6 times I took groups of kids out to the beach and how easily that could have gone sideways.

There is historical background to the issue of Blacks in America not being able to swim. During slavery they were forbidden to learn how to swim, similar to learning how to read and write. 
This way they were less inclined to escape from their owners as the surrounding rivers, lakes and bayous made traversing them impossible.

When some migrated north after Reconstruction, they tended to live in ghettos in the large cities and there was no inclination to learn swimming as it wasn’t part of their normal existence unlike whites who grew up enjoying water and having access to it taken for granted. 
 

We are seeing similar situations here in Canada with our recent immigrants who often don’t have swimming in their skill sets. Exceptions would be from island states where ready access to oceans swimming and fishing are a way of life. They are few however amongst the groups who migrate except for now as rising seas are threatening their islands. 

[BSR]

3 hours ago, Luv2play said:

When some migrated north after Reconstruction, they tended to live in ghettos in the large cities and there was no inclination to learn swimming as it wasn’t part of their normal existence unlike whites who grew up enjoying water and having access to it taken for granted. 

I have to think that access to a swimming pool plays a big factor.  In big cities it’s difficult to impossible to find a public pool, especially in poor neighborhoods, whereas suburban kids like me had a number of options:  the neighborhood community center, the local high school, and a public parks pool were low- or no-cost options.  And if you’re a rich kid, you either have a pool in your backyard or plenty of your friends do.

[caramelsub]

5 minutes ago, BSR said:

I have to think that access to a swimming pool plays a big factor.  In big cities it’s difficult to impossible to find a public pool, especially in poor neighborhoods, whereas suburban kids like me had a number of options:  the neighborhood community center, the local high school, and a public parks pool were low- or no-cost options.  And if you’re a rich kid, you either have a pool in your backyard or plenty of your friends do.

I don’t think the socioeconomic status is the issue. Where I live there are many public swimming pools in all parts of town and in neighborhoods of various economic status. I grew up with access to swimming pools, and swimming lessons starting at age 5. But, I still won’t go in water unless I can stand in it. But that’s just me personally. I think whites are just more into seafaring activities. Especially where I live in the southeast, many white families can trace their lineage to the pirate eras and the revolutionary war. If their ancestors came here sailing on a ship, I would think it would just be more natural, that they would know how to swim, sail, operate a boat, etc. 

[Luv2play]

5 hours ago, BSR said:

I have to think that access to a swimming pool plays a big factor.  In big cities it’s difficult to impossible to find a public pool, especially in poor neighborhoods, whereas suburban kids like me had a number of options:  the neighborhood community center, the local high school, and a public parks pool were low- or no-cost options.  And if you’re a rich kid, you either have a pool in your backyard or plenty of your friends do.

I agree. Today I was at my health club which has an indoor pool. There were 5 or 6 young kids all under 5 with their grandmother I assume watching them and their daddies and moms outside in the hot tub. 
 

The kids were playing delightedly in the pool jumping in and splashing about. The smallest just had inflatable rings around their upper arms. The 5 year olds were able to swim confidently.

Those kids are going to grow up comfortable in the water and mindful of its dangers. Hopefully.