When someone is submerged in freezing cold water, especially when it happens unexpectedly, they may experience an involuntary cold shock response. This can cause their muscles to tense up, trigger an initial gasp, and lead to involuntary hyperventilation. Their chest may feel constricted and tight, and they may feel as though they cannot breathe.
In some cases, the cold shock response can be so severe that someone begins to drown. Many people believe they are strong swimmers and assume they would be able to swim back to a boat or ship after falling overboard. However, even a strong swimmer can be in serious trouble due to the cold shock response. If they gasp and inhale water as soon as they hit the surface, their swimming ability may not be enough to protect them.
One component of man-overboard accidents
When someone falls overboard, whether from a cruise ship, a cargo vessel or a pleasure craft, the situation is extremely dangerous. The cold shock response is just one factor to consider. It contributes to the fact that many of these incidents are fatal and that people suffer severe injuries, such as brain damage, in near-drowning accidents.
Additionally, even a strong swimmer cannot keep up with a vessel that is already underway. A boat may not feel like it is moving very quickly when someone is on board, but there have been cases where people intentionally jump into the water and suddenly find themselves being left behind with no way to catch back up to the ship. It is incredibly difficult to spot a person swimming in the water after they go overboard, which means these accidents at sea carry a high degree of risk – even for accomplished swimmers who spend a great deal of time on the water.
This illustrates why these accidents are so dangerous and why family members need to understand all of the legal options available to them.