Worst feeling I have ever had

[Seabass]

Today I got some of the worst news one could ever hear, but in the end it turned out better than I could have hoped.

I was gone for the better part of the day and when I came home I asked where my 14 daughter was. I was told she had went sailing with three other teenagers in the Gulf of Mexico. I was apprehensive about her going and it was too late for me to have any input. I was told the boy sailing the boat was certified through the local yacht club.

She was supposed to return at 5 and by 6 I still had not heard from her. At 6:30, the yacht club called and said my daughter and two of her friends had jumped off the boat at 6 and they were looking for them in the water. I raced over to the yacht club to find out the marine patrol and coast guard had five boats in the water looking for them. At this point I was in full panic mode. I could do nothing but watch from the pier as the patrol boats moved back and forth in a grid pattern looking for them. As the sun started to go down, my fear grew even worst as it was pitch black and you could see nothing.

At 8:45, I finally got a call that the girls had swam to an island about two miles away and were found on the beach.

My daughter explained the sail boat they were on had started taking on water about 300 yds from shore and they decided to swim in, but the current took them out into the Mississippi sound. They made smart decisions and stayed together and all decided to swim to the closest island in the direction the current was pulling them.

We are home now safe and sound.

I have never been so worried in my life and I was in full panic mode for several hours. I have a raging headache now and still pumping with adrenaline.

If any of you guys are near the coast, make sure you teach your kids about the water. I am grateful that my daughter listened to me when I discussed safety precautions about being in the water (even though she knew better than to jump in the water from a boat). This could have been ten times worst than it turned out.

I have never felt fear like this, it was a real eye opener.

All three girls are home safe, and other than being a little cold, they are perfectly healthy. Tragedy avoided for sure.

Jake

[mikea96]

So glad that everyone is safe!

[GoMachV]

Damn, scary stuff right there. Very glad it turned out ok.

[R Cane]

Wow
That's some heavy stuff there. Happy they are OK!

[slotcarrod]

Jeez louise! Happy it was ok in the end, but I bet you aged a few years in a few hours!

[Seabass]

I have never experienced a panic attack before, but I am sure I was in the middle of one for a few hours.

Daughter was in the water for 1.5 hours while they made their way to the island. She said she got extremely tired from swimming and had to stop several times to let the current carry her. She said she also swallowed a ton of saltwater since the sound was super choppy. We are very fortunate and thank god she had her life jacket on.

[Diamond Dave]

Wow does not describe it. I am not sure I would have remained as calm as you have been.

I am so glad that you have your daughter returned to you, she was smart to continue on as she did, yet the advice and know how as to not jump ship.

Holy **** man, I am now sure I would not have been that composed at all.

I have a 21 yr old son. He is as smart as we were back then, if not more. But still......... Glad you are all safe!!

[farmer]

Wow that's some scary stuff
Thank God everything turned out ok
Farmer

[Phin]

That's nuts. Glad that everything turned out alright and everyone is safe.

[uniquenamehere]

wow, really glad everyone's okay!

[scr8p]

Glad they're all safe!

[jwscab]

Damn man. Glad to hear they are all ok and used their heads! I can't even imagine.

[slim_chance]

So happy to hear it turned out that everyone is ok. My oldest daughter is the same age and I would have lost my mind.

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

As a father myself I can only imagine the worry you were going through. Glad she made it home safe!

[PlastiZapCA+]

I was scared just reading this! Very happy everyone is safe now.