He was a man with an impressive physique, and I am sure he made his teams proud whichever team he paddled with in dragonboat races. I do not know why the national team's boat that he was in at that race in Cambodia capsized, why no one on the boat wore PFDs, and why he didn't managed to surface and keep himself safe despite being able to swim. It is almost maddening that such a tragedy occurred, because it was probably preventable. I'm not the sort to say that such a way to go was fitting - no one deserves to die for their sport. Sports ought only to empower people, make us feel alive or even give us a reason to live.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sadness
Just received news today of the passing of a friend I know in NIE - he was from another class, but we took quite a few modules together. We had shivered in the cold waters of the NIE pool together during swimming lessons, laughing at each other's goosebumps. I remember recording a funny video clip of him trying to dive into the water and ending up slapping his front flat on the surface. We played against each other in soccer and badminton, and practiced softball throwing numerous times together. We were never really close but he was one of those good-natured chap whom you get a warm feeling from whenever you see him around.
He was a man with an impressive physique, and I am sure he made his teams proud whichever team he paddled with in dragonboat races. I do not know why the national team's boat that he was in at that race in Cambodia capsized, why no one on the boat wore PFDs, and why he didn't managed to surface and keep himself safe despite being able to swim. It is almost maddening that such a tragedy occurred, because it was probably preventable. I'm not the sort to say that such a way to go was fitting - no one deserves to die for their sport. Sports ought only to empower people, make us feel alive or even give us a reason to live.
He was a man with an impressive physique, and I am sure he made his teams proud whichever team he paddled with in dragonboat races. I do not know why the national team's boat that he was in at that race in Cambodia capsized, why no one on the boat wore PFDs, and why he didn't managed to surface and keep himself safe despite being able to swim. It is almost maddening that such a tragedy occurred, because it was probably preventable. I'm not the sort to say that such a way to go was fitting - no one deserves to die for their sport. Sports ought only to empower people, make us feel alive or even give us a reason to live.
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4 comments:
stumble upon your blog and realised that u were the one who showed me that video.. was wondering do u still have it?
Maybe I do? Have to see if it's around. Contact me and let me know who you are at least...
Its not a mandatory requirement at most international races to wear the PFD and in most races competitors actually don't wear it.
In this case, I'm not too sure how the PFD could have helped given that the boat capsized when it hit a pontoon the size of a basketball court and that the 5 victims were probably swept underneath the pontoon by the swift river current. Given the murky river conditions, even the best swimmers might not have been able to make it if they were swept underneath the pontoon.
This is really a sad day for dragonboating.
Excellent judgment Roland, my thoughts exactly. If the boaters went under the floating platform, a PFD on them would have prevented them from swimming properly actually.
Everyone recognised that it is a tragedy, but so many blindly pointed their fingers at the wrong reason for it I think.
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