A very tough week had my friends here on C & F. On Tuesday, there was a tragic accident on the frigid waters of the Westport River in Massachusetts. Duck hunting in “fowl” weather is always a gamble particularly with the combination of water temperature at 35 degrees F, ambient air at 8 degrees F, and the wind steady at 25 mph and gusting to 50 mph for a blow with life sucking dangers.
Three souls on board a small boat ventured into the icy waters for a morning’s duck hunt, all at some point were tossed into the rushing river presumably when a strong gust flipped their vessel topside down. Two of the mates died, one was able to make a short swim through the bone chiiling tidal flow to a small island and was later rescued by airlift from a USCG rescue chopper, the sole survivor is a practicing physician and has suffered frostbite and was nearly killed by hypothermia. One of the two that died was a very good friend and gunning partner of mine. All three were by all accounts great people and very accomplished outdoorsmen.
Ironically, my buddy Rob had served as a Submariner in the USN as a career Navy man, and had travelled the globe while running silent and deep. For frigid waters to steal his life under these circumstances makes one pause in deep consideration as to why?
I ask that any of you that are so inclined, keep these lads and their families in your thoughts and prayers. As a sea captain friend of mine had so poignantly stated to me since this incident, “I would not want to trade dreams with the survivor”. So true! I am humbly requesting that ye all take a moment and play a heartfelt selection, perhaps an air, a lament or something related to the peace found in our natural world (something all three victims had a love for). Offer your selection up as a musical gift of peace and consolation for the victims, their family, and friends.
I ask that those honoring this request please post their musical selection here on C & F. My most heartfelt thanks to all that choose to honor these gents.
As a sidenote, I was suppose to hunt on the same waters with two of these men back in November and we had to cancel at the last minute. I count myself very fortunate that they did not ask me along for this final trip as I quite likely would have been with them. A very spooky and surreal thought for me.
I will be playing “The Parting Glass” in honoring the unfortunate trio.
Sad regrets,
Cayden