We had a fatality on the river today.

[liveonearth]

I am just home. The man who died was in his early 60's. He has three children. We were on the Farmlands section of the White Salmon. I am not accustomed to feeling completely useless but there I was unable to save a life. Many of us there unable to save a life, only 6 feet from shore. We were still trying to get his body free from the log when the search and rescue guys showed up with a chain saw, got him free in moments, but it was already too late, he had been under water for 40 minutes. Lots of processing going on.

Comments

[anais-pf.livejournal.com]

How awful.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

Damn, I'm sorry T.
I don't know what to say in this venue... You know I'm here if you want to talk.
Love Ya.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I'm OK. The experience kind of hit my reset button. I was already acutely aware of how quickly a life can be snuffed, but when it happens before your eyes it makes it much more real. I woke up looking at my arm with intense gratitude to be alive and sore and tired. I am worried about some of the other people involved----the death of their innocence is a painful thing. There's no right thing to say or do, but just being there is important. Bearing witness. Being human together.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

Yes. That is all you can do.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I ordered saws and pulleys today. The two pieces of equipment I most wished I had and didn't. If we'd had an effective saw present when the pin first happened he might have lived. We are alive so I guess the best we can do is learn from our experience.