A Drowning Incident (Class Writing)

I’m Drowning!

Questions:

1.       Where were you?

2.       Who were with you?

3.       What were you doing at that time?

4.       Describe the weather on that day.

5.       How did you start to drown?

6.       What did you do?

7.       What did you think about at that time of drowning?

8.       Were you saved at the end?

9.       How did you feel after that?

10.   What lesson did you learn?

Where? / Who? / When? At East Coast Beach/ Delta Swimming Complex/ Safra (Mount Faber) swimming pool Went for a swim with my family/ friends Deep water Parents sat far away from me when I was swimming

What happened? Strong wind was blowing Dark clouds formed in the sky A small/ light drizzle Did not bother, still wanted to swim Swimming trunks/swimming costume/float/goggles/ enjoying the cool/warm/refreshing/salty water, Splashing, treading water/ creating ripples in the water Having a whale of a time Sudden low tide I was washed further away from shore Turbulent currents became stronger I had leg cramp, became numbed Panicked and screamed loudly for help Nobody was nearby Felt frantic and desperate Sinking and could not take in air Waving/flailing my arms wildly/ Tried/struggled to keep my head above water Head bobbing up and down in the water Out of breath In trouble

How did you feel after that? Parents gave a sigh of relief Thanked the lifeguard profusely Phobia of swimming in the sea Felt scared to go into the water again Parents stopped me from swimming in the big sea

How the problem was resolved? A male passer-by heard my screams for help Alerted a burly/ muscular life guard Galvanised into action Swam towards me and pulled me to shore I swallowed a lot of water My parents saw me about to drown  their heart somersaulted cold sensation hit them their heart would probably seize up a sense of foreboding settled over them Lifeguard applied artificial resuscitation on me I coughed out water

            On a scorching hot day, my parents took my brother and I to Sentosa Siloso Beach for a picnic.

When we reached our destination, we quickly found a shady tree to put down our picnic stuff. My brother and I were very excited to start swimming. We quickly changed into our swimming costumes and ran towards the sea. The water was very calm at that time. We enjoyed splashing and treading water and watching the ripples forming in the water.

After having a whale of a time playing and swimming in the water, my leg suddenly became numbed. I had a leg cramp. I panicked and screamed for help. Alas! My brother was quite far from me. He did not seem to hear my cry for help.

My head bobbed up and down in the water. I swallowed a lot of the salty sea water.

After what seemed like hours of struggling in the water, a hand suddenly grabbed me. My brother had come to my rescue!

          He lifted my head out of the water and pulled me to shore. After laying me on the sandy shore, he applied artificial resuscitation on me and I coughed out water. By then, my parents saw what had transpired and rushed towards us.

 “Peter, are you all right?” my mother asked anxiously as she crouched next to me. I grimaced and howled in pain, gesturing to my legs. My mother shot a reproachful look at my brother, while my father stood over us, his brow creased and his face ashen. My brother thought, “Why did I not keep a close eye on my brother?” Guilt gnawed at him from the inside and he hung his head low.    He rubbed my numbed leg to ease the pain there.        

Gradually, I stopped groaning and my face visibly relaxed. My parents heaved a huge sigh of relief.

           I had suffered a leg cramp because I swam too vigorously and was not properly hydrated before the swim.

            I subsequently apologised to my parents for causing them such great anxiety.

            After that frightening incident when I almost drowned, I refused to venture anywhere near a waterbody for the next month in fear that the same thing would happen to me. However, I gradually recovered my nerve and slowly picked up swimming again.