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Woman in critical condition after trying to save 11-year-daughter at beach

16 Comments

A 44-year-old woman is in a coma after she tried to save her 11-year-old daughter who got into difficulties while swimming at a beach in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Sunday.

According to police, the girl was swept away by a current at around 11:30 a.m. Police said swimming had been prohibited at the beach this weekend due to rip currents. A passerby called 119 and said three people were in trouble in the sea.

Police and rescue personnel rushed to the area. The girl was rescued and sustained light injuries. Her mother who had gone in after her was found in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest. She was taken to hospital and remained in a coma on Sunday afternoon. A 44-year-old male passerby who also tried to help was rescued uninjured.

Police said waves were about 2.5 meters high at the beach on Sunday.

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16 Comments
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I went to Southern Beach in Chigasaki with my family yesterday. There waves were high, and the lifeguards wouldn’t let anyone past ankle-deep water. Even that was too much for my 3-year-old daughter as a small wave knocked her over. We were only in the water for about a minute before deciding to leave. It’s just not worth the risk. But most people didn’t seem fazed by the waves or the lifeguards’ warnings and just kept running out into the water as the waves crashed in.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

The ultimate demonstration of love. I hope she recovers completely

10 ( +19 / -9 )

Hope the mother recovers asap.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Despite bring from a California coastal city, my mother is not a water type - yet when my single-digit sister disappeared into the June dog, she ran in vain after her. A surfer brought her back. But that shows the depth of a parent's love,

8 ( +8 / -0 )

when you can't swim, going in the water to try and save someone is not smart, raise the alarm and keep watching for where the person to be rescued is

If one of my daughters was in a life threatening situation, I would put my life on the line to save her.

A parent will always sacrifice their own life to save the life of their child.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

God please help both mother and daughter to recover soon.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The beach was closed due to 2.5m waves and a dangerous rip. That says a lot about the situation.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The ultimate demonstration of love

More like the ultimate irresponsible parenting letting your child swim in waters that were off limits due to dangerous currents...

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Is there a picture of a warning sign at that very beach posted here where I cannot see? What's the proof the warning was sufficiently delivered? You say so?

Yeah the police say the warning was issued. Doesn't mean a good job was done.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"A 44-year-old male passerby who also tried to help was rescued uninjured."

I am taking that one with a grain of salt. He might be the actual hero in this story with others taking credit for clasping his bicep in knee-deep water to "help".

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The size of the waves is not the only concern in the water, wind, surface currents, and subsurface currents are always there. Here in Florida it is easy to forget how deadly the sea can be, nevermind the sharks.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

 Japanese doctors and families are often reluctant to turn off life support even after the brain shows no activity. 

And do you know why? It isn't the "brain" that is considered central to life here, it's the heart, and if the heart is functioning, with or without the use of a machine, they will NOT turn it off!

It takes a hell of a lot to shut that machine off, (been there done that) and this woman has only been in a coma for a few days now. It will be literally YEARS, if not decades, before any machines get shut off with her.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If one of my daughters was in a life threatening situation, I would put my life on the line to save her.

like I said, not smart. You split the rescue resources when they arrive and thye don't know where to look to effect a quicker rescue. Maybe do some more research?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You should always have a floating object and/or a pole or stick handy when swimming. Trying to save someone by grabbing them in deep water is extremely dangerous and difficult to do, even for strong swimmers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

when you can't swim, going in the water to try and save someone is not smart, raise the alarm and keep watching for where the person to be rescued is. Why are there no life rings around swimming areas?

In a coma is not good (brain dead?). Japanese doctors and families are often reluctant to turn off life support even after the brain shows no activity. I hope I'm wrong.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

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