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This message was sent to Sue Gipson-Price. Susan Morehouse wanted
to share this story of
John’s last day with his classmates and friends. This was
posted on the Allcoast Sportfishing
Message Board (www.allcoastsportfishing.com)
A Tragic Day...
You never know what is going to happen when you throw the last
line and push off from the dock. I usually think about the finding
the mother of all kelp paddys loaded with fat fish or getting
into a full speed bluefin bite with not a soul in sight. Today
we left the dock at 5:30am with a day of salmon fishing planned
dreaming of limits of big fish for everyone on board. I am sure
everyone that left the dock this morning was thinking the same
thing. The day was going great we had 7 fish on the boat for 4
guys and we were working on the last fish of the day. We had passed
a couple fishing from an older Chris Craft about thirty minutes
earlier. We had waved hello, bragged a bit about how many fish
we had on the boat and didn't think another thought about it. I
was talking to friend on the radio, he is actually a casual acquaintance
but he is a nice guy and I would consider him a friend anyway,
when a frantic voice broke through on channel 18. It was a woman
pleading in a panicked voice for help. She exclaimed that her husband
was on the deck and he wasn't moving. As it so happened I had my
partner Doug, an LA City paramedic, and another friend Dave, a
trauma physician, on board and we picked up and headed for the
distressed vessel. As we arrived I recognized the vessel as the
Chris Craft we had passed a little while earlier. I pulled along
side and our guys boarded the vessel to find a frantic woman and
a man in his early 50's on the deck in full cardiac arrest. Dave
and Doug along with another off duty fireman started CPR. Two other
volunteers got on board to drive the boat and we headed for Ventura
Harbor about 13 miles away. While underway, the trio continued
CPR trying to revive the victim. During this time we contacted
the Coast Guard and the Harbor Patrol and requested emergency assistance.
The Coast Guard sent a rescue boat and the Harbor Patrol sent a
towboat. I followed the Coast Guard back to Ventura Harbor to collect
my crew. Sadly to say the victim didn't make it. It's a strange
feeling seeing someone alive and well one minute and the very next
minute seeing that same person laying lifeless on the deck of a
rescue boat covered with a gray blanket. To all of you guys and
gals out there that see this everyday please excuse my emotion.
Also to all of you who do this day in and day out, thank you. It
is truly and amazing sight watching a group of professionals stop
what they are doing and risk their own safety to help someone in
need.
You never know what is going to happen when you throw the last
line and push off from the dock. Life is short and every minute
should be treasured. Get home early to see your kids, skip the
next business trip or go fishing!
Be Safe
CC
a/k/a "Fin-Addict"
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