Worked at Raging Waters for a Summer. Saved several people on simple rides where they easily would've died. It's crazy, watching these videos were a good tool though.

I remember they told us that big black muscular men were susceptible to drowning despite their muscle mass. I thought it was sort of racist, until I had to save a couple of guys who were literally 6 foot 5 and drowning in a 4 foot deep pool. They couldn't get their legs under them and they panic'd, and then walked away after I plucked them (dragged them) out very embarrassed.

Still got paid minimum wage for saving people, and didn't even get a free lunch.

Wow, that's crazy.

He even stopped the waves. Like a boss!

Water is a dangerous thing.

My brother has been a river guide in denali, colorado, life guard, etc. It is shocking who he has to rescue. Last week he had to save a 6'5" muscular army guy who rolled his kayak on the Chicago river (completely flat). He was pretty much stuck upside down.

There continues to be a big racial divide with learning to swim. I wonder how long that trend will persist.

Sounds like we found a good response to "White men can't jump".

I've worked as a rescue boat driver at a large sailing reservoir in the UK for many years. It still terrifies me how little time you've got to get someone out of the water before things get really serious. I've had a few close calls and only one entrapment, but fortunately a very easy to fix one.

Water is a fantastic thing to play around with and my kids will be spending as much time as possible in and around it, but it's well deserving of respect. Add any sort of equipment into the mix (boat, kayak, even rubber rings) and things get worse.

You've got to be so on the ball. Look away for ten seconds and it's too long, you're probably not even going to spot the drowning person. Great to see such a fast and good response in the video!

Now conversely, huge fat fuckers whom you'd expect would be horrible in the water are quite buoyant.-This is why if you are ever involved in a cruise ship mishap, all you'd have to do is tether as many fat people together left onboard after all life boats are gone. If there's one fat guy big enough, you can use him as a personal, shark-feeding flotation device....

I can't believe anyone would go so deep into a pool without knowing how to swim properly!

To add to what others have said, I worked as a swimming instructor when I was younger, and it's amazing how un-water-wise some people are.

For a start, if you can't swim, those rings are a terrible idea, especially for kids. They are way too easy to flip over, and then suddenly your kid is underwater and freaking out.

Everyone should be taught to swim in school.

inner tube or not, what idiot would even consider going in deep water without knowing how to swim. Man people and parents are stupid.

Brings tears to my eyes to see that hero fly to her rescue.

A big glup of water and a bit of panic is all anyone needs to drown.

Knowing how to swim, and thinking calmly when you're scared for your life are not mutually inclusive.

*related=http://videosift.com/video/Drowning-signs-arent-like-the-movies

Drowning signs aren't like the movies. has been added as a related post - related requested by Zawash.