Basic Safety Principles for Outdoor Adventures

The miraculous rescue of a stranded fisherman in late June off Cape Canaveral underscores the importance of safety, even during good weather or a short outing. The 53-year-old angler was eight miles off shore when he bent over to grab a fishing rod, lost his balance and fell overboard. He didn't have his kill switch attached and, because the boat was in gear, the 24-foot boat began to idle away.

Despite the fisherman's best efforts he couldn't catch up to the boat and it wasn't long until he was in the water, alone. Four hours later a crew member on a casino cruise ship spotted him, and he was rescued. The angler's boat, named "Bad Example" is still at large, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The man was exhausted, but in good shape according to the emergency medical technicians who examined him.

A kill switch attaches to a boat's driver by a lanyard, and if the person driving is thrown overboard it automatically pulls the switch, which shuts off the engine. Even in freshwater lakes with relatively calm water it's an important safety feature. Aside from the boat driving off and leaving you, if the motor's still running its torque can make the boat start going in tighter and tighter circles, often striking the person in the water--the so-called circle of death.

Think twice before you head outdoors alone. Seemingly small incidents, like this one, can become life threatening quickly. Had another person been on board the boat it would have meant little more than a change of clothes, instead of the fisherman being forced to tread water for four hours.

Coast Guard officials said it was a miracle anyone saw the boater. The quick thinking angler had taken off his pants and was swinging them in the air to attract attention.