Whale Smack Down!

Mixaddict · 14th March 2007, 03:02

I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, if not, someone please feel free to move this thread. I have not logged on to RBW for the last three weeks because I have been recovering in the hospital from a fairly serious accident in the Silver Banks (just north of the Dominican Repulbic)

I got into a bit of a tangle with a North Atlantic Humpback Whale! 40 tons worth! I was with 17 other divers on the Turks and Ciacos Agressor enjoying the trip of a life time interacting with these Magnificent animals when on the last dive of the last day of the trip I inadvertenly spooked a calf which sent her mother off giving me the "smack down" of a lifetime. The mother flipped me with her tail breaking my femur bone and almost killing me. I have been in the hospital for two weeks and hope to finally go home this weekend. It will be 3 - 6 months before I can walk without crutches, and has been an amazing trial! Please see the attached link to an ABC report. I have been interviewed on Good Morning America twice, Inside Edition, Fox Morning Show, CTV (Canada) as well as numerous local TV broadcasts. The reporter have almost been more trouble than the accident itself.

You can read about the grueling surgery in the DR on-line as well. Let's just say that you don't ever want to have to go the hospital in one of these 3rd world countries. 3 1/2 of femur surgery completey awake, with hack saws, hammers, windows without glass, and post operative care that was a nightmare, is not my idea of a vacation.

I have been quite upset by most of the press coverage due to biased spin that they have put on everything, implying that we were bothering the whales. Theses animals are the most magnificent creatures I have ever witnessed, and invited us into their actions on virtually every dive. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As soon as I am out of the hospital, I am going to write a full report on the experience. I have received well wishes from many of you, and am grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Science/sto...2942052&page=2

Regards,
Randy Thornton

Gilles · 14th March 2007, 08:15

Randy;

This is a good place to tell your story.

Wow.

G

decoweenie · 14th March 2007, 08:26

WOW!

Randy, glad to hear that you are (now) all right but it could have been much-much worse. You are still alive!

Hope you will get well soon!

Have to remember this incident for future reference...

silent running · 14th March 2007, 08:55

Holly Mackeral Randy! Way to break a femur! I needed a motorcycle to break a bone that thick. I would have much prefered your way if given the chance...

What were you diving with, a snorkel? I thought they didn't allow OC. I know an operator who will take CCR divers out there and claimed it's not a violation of the rules. I will think twice about taking him up on it in a place like D.R.

Good luck on your recovery, I hope it's only a matter of time. -Andy

***Decodiver*** · 14th March 2007, 09:18

Hi Randy,

Glad you are on the road to recovery, hang in there.

I guess this reinforces the fact that down there we are not always the apex predator we think we are!

Take care and mend quick,

Dave.

***caveseeker7*** · 14th March 2007, 09:19

Hi Randy, welcome back to RBW and congrats on living to tell the tale.
Am sure I'm not the only one looking forward to it.
Wish you a speedy recovery.

Note to self: Don't get b!tch-slapped by a whale!

marekm · 14th March 2007, 09:37

Hi Randy,

Are you aware that half the world has seen the footage of you getting your leg broken? Your more or less famous now!

However, where I live, the Australian media (who do not represent my views) were pretty scathing of your actions and made you and charter operator out to be the bad guys, so your more infamous around here.

Cheers.
-Marek

Deepwreck · 14th March 2007, 23:10

Hope you feel better.

Tom Rose · 14th March 2007, 23:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict)

I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, if not, someone please feel free to move this thread.

What kind of rebreather were you diving when you had your accident?.....Just kidding....glad to have you with the living...

Tom

shell-back · 14th March 2007, 23:32

ouch! that made me hurt. I had a left ankle internal fixation with an epidural and can't imagine the sight of a hack saw instead of the power saw ,freakin A thats crazy. it sounds like the whale was the least of the pain. Good luck and I hope you are on some serious antibiotics. Get well soon

14th March 2007, 03:02	#1 (permalink)
Mixaddict RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 520	Whale Smack Down! I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, if not, someone please feel free to move this thread. I have not logged on to RBW for the last three weeks because I have been recovering in the hospital from a fairly serious accident in the Silver Banks (just north of the Dominican Repulbic) I got into a bit of a tangle with a North Atlantic Humpback Whale! 40 tons worth! I was with 17 other divers on the Turks and Ciacos Agressor enjoying the trip of a life time interacting with these Magnificent animals when on the last dive of the last day of the trip I inadvertenly spooked a calf which sent her mother off giving me the "smack down" of a lifetime. The mother flipped me with her tail breaking my femur bone and almost killing me. I have been in the hospital for two weeks and hope to finally go home this weekend. It will be 3 - 6 months before I can walk without crutches, and has been an amazing trial! Please see the attached link to an ABC report. I have been interviewed on Good Morning America twice, Inside Edition, Fox Morning Show, CTV (Canada) as well as numerous local TV broadcasts. The reporter have almost been more trouble than the accident itself. You can read about the grueling surgery in the DR on-line as well. Let's just say that you don't ever want to have to go the hospital in one of these 3rd world countries. 3 1/2 of femur surgery completey awake, with hack saws, hammers, windows without glass, and post operative care that was a nightmare, is not my idea of a vacation. I have been quite upset by most of the press coverage due to biased spin that they have put on everything, implying that we were bothering the whales. Theses animals are the most magnificent creatures I have ever witnessed, and invited us into their actions on virtually every dive. I would do it again in a heartbeat. As soon as I am out of the hospital, I am going to write a full report on the experience. I have received well wishes from many of you, and am grateful for your thoughts and prayers. http://abcnews.go.com/US/Science/sto...2942052&page=2 Regards, Randy Thornton __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution, Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
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14th March 2007, 08:15	#2 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 762	Re: Whale Smack Down! Randy; This is a good place to tell your story. Wow. G __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
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14th March 2007, 08:26	#3 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,487	Re: Whale Smack Down! WOW! Randy, glad to hear that you are (now) all right but it could have been much-much worse. You are still alive! Hope you will get well soon! Have to remember this incident for future reference... __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM Last edited by decoweenie : 14th March 2007 at 09:06.
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14th March 2007, 08:55	#4 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,873	Re: Whale Smack Down! Holly Mackeral Randy! Way to break a femur! I needed a motorcycle to break a bone that thick. I would have much prefered your way if given the chance... What were you diving with, a snorkel? I thought they didn't allow OC. I know an operator who will take CCR divers out there and claimed it's not a violation of the rules. I will think twice about taking him up on it in a place like D.R. Good luck on your recovery, I hope it's only a matter of time. -Andy
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14th March 2007, 09:18	#5 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,194	Re: Whale Smack Down! Hi Randy, Glad you are on the road to recovery, hang in there. I guess this reinforces the fact that down there we are not always the apex predator we think we are! Take care and mend quick, Dave. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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14th March 2007, 09:19	#6 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,556	Re: Whale Smack Down! Hi Randy, welcome back to RBW and congrats on living to tell the tale. Am sure I'm not the only one looking forward to it. Wish you a speedy recovery. Note to self: Don't get b!tch-slapped by a whale! __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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14th March 2007, 09:37	#7 (permalink)
marekm Banned Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 196	Re: Whale Smack Down! Hi Randy, Are you aware that half the world has seen the footage of you getting your leg broken? Your more or less famous now! However, where I live, the Australian media (who do not represent my views) were pretty scathing of your actions and made you and charter operator out to be the bad guys, so your more infamous around here. Cheers. -Marek
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14th March 2007, 23:10	#8 (permalink)
Deepwreck Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 114	Re: Whale Smack Down! Hope you feel better. __________________ OC is for Bailout! Go Big, then go home.
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14th March 2007, 23:24	#9 (permalink)
Tom Rose Still Learning Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA,North Carolina Posts: 331	Re: Whale Smack Down! Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict) I don't know if this is the correct place to put this, if not, someone please feel free to move this thread. What kind of rebreather were you diving when you had your accident?.....Just kidding....glad to have you with the living... Tom __________________ The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime I have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability I'll get it wrong the first time. www.atlimp.com
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14th March 2007, 23:32	#10 (permalink)
shell-back I do all my own stunts Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: middle of US Posts: 475	Re: Whale Smack Down! ouch! that made me hurt. I had a left ankle internal fixation with an epidural and can't imagine the sight of a hack saw instead of the power saw ,freakin A thats crazy. it sounds like the whale was the least of the pain. Good luck and I hope you are on some serious antibiotics. Get well soon __________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge. ----Daniel Boorstin Billy Beal SDITDI IT #3507 RBW FIGJAM commitee member
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