Two brothers drown trying to save dog

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/81109.html

Two brothers drown trying to save dog

snip//

The Smith brothers were hunting ducks Saturday when Noel's Chesapeake Bay Retriever scrambled onto the ice and broke through the surface.

Noel Smith went to rescue his hunting dog. The ice broke beneath him, and he fell in.

Nathan Smith found a wooden post and reached out to his brother, as Andrew Smith held onto him.

The two brothers spread themselves out on the ice, but as they reached for Noel, the ice broke and they fell into the water. Andrew managed to escape.

Pat Oilar, chief of the McArthur Volunteer Fire Department, said the emergency call came in about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

The first firefighters on the scene found Andrew shivering uncontrollably and hypothermic, Oilar said.

"He indicated his brothers were still in the water under the ice," the fire chief said.

More units were called for, the fire chief said. The ice was too thin to walk on, so a volunteer firefighter stopped a local duck hunter and asked to use his boat, Oilar said.

Firefighters broke through the thin ice near a boat ramp and searched the dark water using long poles and flashlights, he said.

After nearly a half-hour, they found the first victim in about 10 feet of water and pulled him to shore. They tried to resuscitate him but could not, Oilar said. The second drowning victim was found shortly before 7 p.m., he said.

"I saw no signs of life," Oilar said.

All three brothers were rushed to Mayers Memorial Hospital, 11 miles away in Fall River Mills, he said. Andrew Smith was treated and released. His brothers were pronounced dead.

Officials said the dog survived.

[pitohui]

1. oh jeez people what a horrible story

what do you say to something like that? "the dog survived" but how will the family ever be able to look at that dog again without misery?

[CBGLuthier]

2. and let the tastless iunternet speculating begin

stereotypes shall be used I am sure. Questioning of intelligence, sobrety and suggestions for Darwin award.

Have fun you sick fucks.

[pitohui]

4. it doesn't sound like alcohol was involved, it sounds like an unfortunate chain of events

sounds like dog went in the ice, one brother went too far to try to save dog, second brother tries to save first brother and so it goes

it's easy for us to sit here in the quiet of our living rooms and say, well, the dog went under the ice, too bad, so sad, but in the heat of the moment, if we were actually there and saw our dog go down, who knows if on impulse w.out thinking if we'd do the same thing? on quiet reflection it's easy to say a dog is not worth a human life, but in the moment, you're not thinking you'll die, you're thinking, i can save my dog...

and certainly you can't fault the next brother for trying to save the first...

sometimes bad things happen just because

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I am so sad for their family.

:cry:

[Edweird]

5. The bond between dogs and their humans can be deep.

They obviously loved their dog a lot. Plenty of scumbags would have said "fuck it - I'll get another one". This dog must have been more than just a possession. I'm guessing he was part of the family.

[catbyte]

6. That's horrible

I would probably do the same thing if one of my cats were in jeopardy like that--although they usually get out of scrapes like that without our help.

What an awful time of year for this to happen, too. My grandma died on New Year's Day when I was 13 and I've hated the holiday ever since.

Diane

Anishnabe in MI

[closeupready]

10. My grandfather died just days before Christmas when I was also about 13, and

unfortunately, my thoughts always turn to that experience this time of year.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Aw--I'd probably have tried to save my dog too. Can't really blame them.

I hope the hospital tried a long time before pronouncing them dead, though--freezing-water drowning victims can sometimes be resuscitated because the metabolism slows way down and delays cell death. I guess not in this case--:(

[Kahuna]

8. So sad.

:cry:

[seabeyond]

9. sad sad sad. nt

[dana_b]

11. oh how horrible

and poor Andrew! Damn!

[marmar]

12. How awful.

nt

[LostInAnomie]

13. I can't blame them.

It was probably short sighted on their part for not appreciating the dangers, but the bond between an owner and their dog is incredibly strong sometimes, and it would be unbearable to watch your canine friend struggle in freezing waters and merely hope for the best.

I'm sure the dog would have done the same.

[goldcanyonaz]

14. How heartbreaking. I can't imagine how the surviving brother is going to cope with this.

I pray that he can heal.

[Brickbat]

15. That's terrible. That poor family.

Chalk me up as one of the "scumbags" who would have let the dog go.

[malaise]

16. Too sad

:cry:

[marmar]

17. An unrec on this post?

Sincerely, :wtf:

[Cetacea]

20. Fixed it. nt

[undeterred]

18. So very sad.

[Cetacea]

19. Jeez. What a heart-breaking tragedy.

I am sure many would have tried to save their dog as well. I don't know how the other brother is ever going to get over this.

[tularetom]

21. That story really got to me

I know exactly what went through these guy's minds. I would have done the same thing for my dogs.

[SallyMander]

22. Chessies were bred to bust through ice when retrieving ducks

The dog would likely have been fine... This story is so sad :(

[pitohui]

27. you are correct, the dog did survive

very sad on every level

[jesus_of_suburbia]

23. I would try to save my dogs too.

The only way I wouldn't is if I knew FOR SURE that I would die trying.

[applegrove]

24. Very sad.

[MadMaddie]

25. I would have probably done the same thing for my dog

May they RIP!

[girl gone mad]

26. Heartbreaking.

:cry:

This may be small comfort to some, but I almost drowned when I was a child. I remember that it was very peaceful, like falling asleep in a big, soft bed. My dad rescued me.

So sorry for the family, especially Andrew. :(

[timeforpeace]

28. Sad, and thanks for sharing.

[saltpoint]

29. I surely am impressed by the great responses to this post, folks.

I'd like to hang out with y'all and would treat your dogs with great respect as well.

babylonsister, you are doin' it right.

Recommended.

[hayu_lol]

30. From military flight crew survival training...

If you go into the water(extreme cold conditions)and climb out on ice or land or flotation devices, remove your water-logged clothing and let the water freeze(usually seconds or minutes)and then beat the ice out of the garments.

Replace your clothing. You can stave off hypothermia for some time by doing this.

Not an appealing idea but it is supposed to work.