Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2019

SPORTS & OUTDOORS safety on the water
911 on the water: Bow Fishing Takes A Deadly Turn
story by Frank Wilem
photos courtesy of Stuart Allgood and Hoss Bow shing Charters
Sight-fishing for redfish is one of my fishing favorites. Watching them tailing along the banks, casting to them, and seeing them take the bait is certain to get your pulse racing.
Each of us has our personal favorite type of fishing or hunting, like Don and Neely Gaddy who enjoyed bow hunting for big game on our recent hunting trip to Africa. But then there are those who combine the two sports and bow hunt for redfish.
Capt. Douglas Alan Patrick is an avid outdoorsman
and member of our FYO Charter Team who has been on
our television show, Find Your Outdoors, several times. Recently we joined him, his father, and Capt. Andrew Messenger with Hoss Charters on a bow fishing trip to hunt redfish.
“It sounded like a fun trip but ended up... in a way we wish it hadn’t,” said Stuart Allgood, our FYO producer who was there to film the trip.
The sun had set by the time they were loaded up in the boat and positioned at their favorite spot. As soon as they fired up the lights, they saw the first redfish and took a shot... and a miss. But then they got dialed in, nailing big
reds on every shot. The action continued hot and heavy, such that by 9:30 a.m., they were only two shy of their limit when disaster struck.
Capt. Alan noticed that his father had not bagged his limit so he decided to help him out by spotting. “Dad, there’s a 26-inch redfish, get him!” Capt. Alan yelled.
“I can’t see him,” his dad replied then added, “I’m not feeling well.”
Capt. Alan was confused since the fish was only a couple of feet from the boat in less than two feet of water, but encouraged his dad to take a break. His dad sat on the cooler but seconds later fell striking his head on the gunnel and lay on the deck.
“I knew something was bad wrong, so we rolled him over and put him in recovery position. We checked his pulse and found it to be around 64,” Capt. Alan said. Having extensive training from his job working offshore, Capt. Alan then began emergency treatment. “We rubbed his sternum and began putting cold water on both sides of his neck to cool him down while trying to revive him.”
They called 911 as they ran back toward the dock. After a 30-minute boat ride in the dark, they reached the dock
58 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2019
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