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Location: Subconscious Syncope, USA (Northeastern US)
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I was looking for other cases of impalement from a beach umbrella. I found one case from Ocean City, MD that happened 5 years ago.
I also found this video from the same place. On a lighter note than the death of the poor woman in this thread, please make note of the trash can that was attacked, as well as the beach-goer that tries to use a closed umbrella to take out an umbrella in flight.
One case in 5 years does not seem substantial. Tbh, I'm tired of being regulated on every little insignificant point. Pale people need sea air too.
The dice rolls and sometimes you get 'snake eyes'.
Having been a paramedic for 20+ years, I have seen my share of bad luck.
Man has flat tire. He is standing a the trunk, getting tire out. Tuck coming down road towing a large, industrial compressor. Trailer comes unhitched, separates from truck, hits man standing at the trunk getting tire out.
Older woman has stroke while driving, hits another car head on, kills young lady returning from her college graduation.
Seconds, even microseconds determine life and death every day. Just look at all the cars on the highway going 80 feet per second (that's at 55 mph) while they text, change radio stations, try to eat, change lanes, and smoke, all at once. Its a wonder any of us are alive.
The beach umbrella manufacturers need to redesign the ends so they are not spiked. Like someone here said before, they can act like flying spears / javelins if there are strong winds.
I don't think this is a freak accident. This is more like an accident waiting to happen.
On Maui you can no longer rent that type of umbrella (at least from Snorkel Bobs which is where I go) due to concerns over liability.
We've learned lots of things over the years, usually the hard way, but we've made modern life safer. Sometimes it's government regulation that's needed, sometimes just common sense.
I agree these sorts of umbrellas should not be on a public beach.
I remember a similar thing happened at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 30 years ago when I was visiting. Not sure if she died but a lady was impaled by a flying umbrella.
[quote=Scooby Snacks;44374975]Or better yet, ban people going onto the beach entirely! That would prevent all the deaths from ocean drownings, getting eaten by sharks and other animals, terrible sunburns, alcohol poisoning from drinking too much and excessive sun exposure, and all the other safety hazards caused by going to the beach
Yep I'm staying home under the covers. Life is just to scary.
Sure the government should get involved. I also want meteor resistant houses with metal roofs and all highways covered over with a metal roof. Meteors scare me to death and its the governments fault they don't protect us.
Meteors that hit the earth are a freak occurrence. Wind is not. It is to be expected. That's why there ought to be changes in the types of umbrellas or sun shade enclosures allowed on the beach. This was not the only time beach impalement has happened.
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