Risk Management Magazine

While holding onto a rock to stabilize myself, I felt the ground beneath my feet begin to give way. At this point, any movement made my grip weaker. Eventually, I couldn’t hold on any longer and fell. I slid backward for 40 yards down an extremely steep ridge. Luckily, I hit a tree and flipped onto my stomach, still sliding down at a rapid pace.

Taking an early morning swim in the ocean is a great way to start your day. If you’re not careful, however, that great start could come to an abrupt and tragic end. It almost happened to me.

Being that I’m very safety conscious, I’ve taken my share of boating courses and always carry more than the minimum requirement of protective gear whenever I go out on the water. Unfortunately, as I learned firsthand, not all boat owners are as serious about safety.