Rock Fishing Drowning at Sawtell

[Pete62]

This morning I arrived at the Bonville Creek ramp intending to chase a Jack and was met by a Policeman who informed me that there had been a man reported missing from a headland at the mouth of the creek and a Kyaker had just reported something floating in the water in the creek.

The policeman asked if I would take him in my boat to search for what was almost defianately the mans body as the water police where searching in the ocean out from where he was reported to be fishing.

After about an hour, the body was spotted by another boat and the policeman asked if we could stay with the body until the water police arrived to retrieve it.

Such a tragedy, I felt OK when we were going through this process but now I feel very strange, a sadness and a knot in my stomach and I feel like I could be sick.

That family has lost a loved one and a man has lost his life...................please be careful in your pursuits.

Pete.

[BR65]

Ouch, very sad Pete. That poor bloke got up this morning to enjoy a simple fish, and the end result is something no one would have thought about.
We take so much for granted, when really, we are still here more by good luck rather than good management half the time.
Makes ya think about whats important.
Take care of yourself brother as well...

brian

[wilcara]

Pete - have a talk to the cops because they have contacts for counsellers you can talk to in this sort of event. Give it a go, just get it all off your chest with somebody who actually knows what this sort of thing is like, it does effect you, and you have nothing to lose. Sorry for this guy but sorry for you too.

[disorderly]

Good on you Pete for helping out in the search...

Unfortunately fishing off the rocks is probably the most dangerous form of fishing there is...all it takes is a slip or turning your back at the wrong moment and it can be all over...

Hope you can realize that its a risk we all take when we choose to put ourselves in such a position and that the rescuer's/searchers should not bear the burden of a personal mistake from an any individual..

If its bothering you, do as wilcara suggests and go have a chat to a counseller ...mate you went out of your way to help in a really tragic situation but it should not be your burden to bear...

good luck

Scott

[Chamelion]

Sad to hear that mate... Don't be afraid to talk to people about it. You're not breaking man code by discussing feelings after being witness to such a thing.

[Zooter]

Such a tradegy to loose a fellow fisho.

Things like this happen and you realise that your never 100% safe.

Must of been a tough thing to do pete, WD for your efforts to recover his body

[Pete62]

Thanks for the words of support guys, it means a lot. I was not trying to make this about me but this afternoon I needed to vent.
I have had a night out with my family for dinner, I feel better but my thoughts keep going back to the family of the man, so sad.


Peace,
Pete.

[rando]

Sad and disturbing just to read about it Pete. Up close and personal must be very difficult.
Look after yourself mate, and ask for any help you might need.

Kind regards
rando

[Chamelion]

Very normal and understandable mate. Don't expect your mind to ever be fully clear of it and certainly don't expect to feel relatively unconcerned about it for the forseeable future.
Give yourself some emotional leeway and allow yourself to progress through your natural feelings at a natural and comfortable rate... Refrain from forcing it.

Perhaps you could attempt to contact his family and offer your condolences? Is not knowing who they are a partial cause of your current feelings? In the same position I think that would relate to me...

Matt.

[TheRealAndy]

Toughen up ya pansy!

Seriously though, I had to sit on a juror panel on a kiddie fiddler case once, which is my most hated offences. Took me a while to get over it, mainly cause the whole time you have to detach your emotions from the situation. Its not a good thing, cause it hits you smack bang in the face as soon as you walk away. Its a normal human reaction, if it did not happen you would probably be a murderer or some really nasty f#cker.