Ban swimming in corbin park in the spokane river (Coeur d'Alene: 2009, school)

[Amandaje5]

I think it is about time we do something about this area where plenty of people swim and also many have lost lives.. I am tired of no actions being taken towards making this and illegal place to swim. The "swim at your own risk" signs are simply not enough... this is the second dear friend I have lost to that exact spot on the spokane river in Post Falls....

Body: POST FALLS -- Will Wilcox was a "walking encyclopedia" on sports. The 32-year-old man who, according to friends played in Spokane's Hoopfest this year and had aspirations of going to college to be an accountant, drowned on Friday in the Spokane River on the east end of Corbin Park in Post Falls. Police and witnesses said that Wilcox, at the park with a group of residents from the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane, was wading across the river when it appeared that he was sucked under by the current. "It appears that he slipped and fell and witnesses saw his arms flailing when he went under, " Sheriff Rocky Watson said. Bystanders said several people tried to save Wilcox in the ensuing moments after hearing him yell for help. Wilcox's body was recovered at 1:47 p.m. by multi-agency rescue divers. He was under 13 feet of water.
Attempts to resuscitate Wilcox, originally from Coeur d'Alene but at the UGM for the past six months, were unsuccessful. Wilcox was with about 25 others from the Union Gospel Mission during a day outing that included a picnic, softball and swimming.Friends said that Wilcox has family in Coeur d'Alene. "He was our brother from Coeur d'Alene, " said Spokane's Chris Coder. "He said that this was his neck of the woods." Coder said Wilcox was tight with family and others at UGM."He was close to all of us, " Coder said. "He loved sports, and he loved God." UGM resident Walter Cookson said Wilcox had a big heart."He was really into baseball and basketball, " Cookson said. "He was a walking encyclopedia, really knew what was going on. He was changing his life (at UGM) and doing it for the better."
Cookson said Wilcox worked in the back dock area of the UGM where donations were accepted."People loved him because he'd say, 'Good day. How are you? God Bless, '" Cookson said. "He was always friendly. If I needed to talk to someone, he was there. We'll miss him dearly." After the incident, a group prayer for Wilcox was held at the picnic area.

[Spudchick1982]

I believe that your friends died on there own behalf. I swim at Corbin Park every year, and I know a lot of people that swim there. No one I know has died there. As for your proposel to ban swimming there, I say NO. Everyone who swims there knows the risk they take. If you ban swimming there you would **** a lot of people off, so dont think about doing it.

[cleosmom]

Let me start by saying I know nothing of the area, but I do know people. We all make choices and sometimes we pay for the choices we make. People will do what's enjoyable to them, knowing full well that risk is involved. People skydive, bungee jump, race cars (legally on and off track), the list of extreme sports goes on.... I don't think bnanning swimming is the answer.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friends.

[Kikibelle]

I agree that swimming should be banned there. I have heard of several people that have lost their lives there. I myself almost drowned there when I got caught in the current and could not swim through it. I am an experienced swimmer, but that current could take anyone by surprise. The only thing that saved my life as I went under, with no energy left to hold on, was I remembered my mom saying that if you ever get so tired you cant make it, just float and let the current carry you till you have the energy. Thats what I did, and a mile down the river I finally drifted to the shore. It was the most terrifying experience. My friends were there, also experienced swimmers, but they too got caught in the current when they tried to help me, so they had to go back to shore. There are so many other, much safer swimming areas in the area; there is no reason that people should be losing their lives for an afternoon in the water!

[Kikibelle]

This lady should not be encouraging people to swim in this area, especially when she does not know the dangerous currents and undertow. sure, people have control of their lives, but that does not justify putting yourself in danger, or others!

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Let me start by saying I know nothing of the area, but I do know people. We all make choices and sometimes we pay for the choices we make. People will do what's enjoyable to them, knowing full well that risk is involved. People skydive, bungee jump, race cars (legally on and off track), the list of extreme sports goes on.... I don't think bnanning swimming is the answer.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friends.

[buffalo head]

Originally Posted by Kikibelle

This lady should not be encouraging people to swim in this area, especially when she does not know the dangerous currents and undertow. sure, people have control of their lives, but that does not justify putting yourself in danger, or others!

The lady you quoted said this:

Let me start by saying I know nothing of the area, but I do know people. We all make choices and sometimes we pay for the choices we make. People will do what's enjoyable to them, knowing full well that risk is involved. People skydive, bungee jump, race cars (legally on and off track), the list of extreme sports goes on.... I don't think bnanning swimming is the answer.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friends.

Where did you get that she was encouraging anyone to do anything? She was stating a fact about human nature.

If you want to argue a point, good, but don't put words in people's mouths.

One of the problems with people today is that nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions. If you do something you know to be dangerous and you do it anyway and get hurt or killed, it is entirely, one hundred percent YOUR fault. It isn't the fault of somebody who posted on a message board; it isn't the fault of law makers; it isn't because your mom didn't give you enough cookies as a kid. It's because you decided, using your own free will to do so, to perform a certain action and that action ended with an unfortunate result. That was a chance you took when you made the decision to do what you did.

I, too, am sorry to hear of the OPs friends.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by buffalo head

The lady you quoted said this:



Where did you get that she was encouraging anyone to do anything? She was stating a fact about human nature.

If you want to argue a point, good, but don't put words in people's mouths.

One of the problems with people today is that nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions. If you do something you know to be dangerous and you do it anyway and get hurt or killed, it is entirely, one hundred percent YOUR fault. It isn't the fault of somebody who posted on a message board; it isn't the fault of law makers; it isn't because your mom didn't give you enough cookies as a kid. It's because you decided, using your own free will to do so, to perform a certain action and that action ended with an unfortunate result. That was a chance you took when you made the decision to do what you did.

I, too, am sorry to hear of the OPs friends.

Buffalo_head, thanks for covering for me. I haven't paid attention to this thread as it was done last Fall.

Correct, I'm not saying to run out and everyone MUST swim in that river I'm just stating the facts; people (dumb, smart, trained, untrained) sometimes enjoy taking risks. Flying in planes can at times be unsafe, should we do away with all planes and airports? How many people are killed on the highways and roads daily? Should we go back to walking and forbid automobiles? You take your first risk once you rise out of bed each day

[1 Morning Star]

Ban Swimming At Corbin??? Preposterous Idea !!! I have swam at Corbin Park In Post Falls,Idaho for years and it's a BEAUTIFUL place for a summer swim away from it all. It's a TRADITION for many,many people and just because there are careless people, who take ridiculous risks, that's NO REASON to ban swimming at Corbin. That's like saying ban cars because people get killed in car wrecks. Taking Personal responsibility for ones actions is the only way to look at this issue. I have NEVER felt in danger at Corbin. But then again I'm not stupid enough to risk swimming in the Whirl Pool Area at Corbin ! ! That could be a potential DEATH sentence. So a little common since goes a long way @ Corbin Park,ID. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER , AND ENJOY SWIMMING AT CORBIN PARK,IDAHO. If you've never been there you should try it out. It's a classic old school swimming experience that you'll not forget. The scenery is incredible,& the water is COLD and REFRESHINGLY CLEAN.**SUMMER 2009, ONE TO REMEMBER**