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About how deep is the water in the New River at Bridge Day??

deep in the middle
shallow near the shore

deep enough

depth is less important compared to the velocity of the water. Its moving quick, really fast. But making the LZ shouldnt be an issue if you do a 5 sec or less delay. Unless you suck.
(dry faster than you can heal is a good mantra tho)

What if one can't swim? I don't think that the mantra "dry faster than heal" applies in this situation. One fatality from BASE there resulted from this already. Food for thought.
take care,
space

One person who was being chased by people who wanted to arrest him, jumped into a fast moving river and drowned.

If someone lands in the water at bridge day, skilled boat drivers and crew will extract the jumper in less than a minute whether he can swim or not.

Being chased and choosing to flee by plunging into a river and simply landing near a rescue crew with the intention of being rescued is not even comparable. Food for thought.

At bridge day, if there are any doubts, land in the water.

The "chasing" incident occurred at Yosemite.

There "was" a drowning at Bridge Day in the early years, see #5 on the list. This incident changed the safety procedures concerning water rescues.

I think you are missing the point so I will explain more. Near drownings (inhaling water) can and has been fatal even though unconsciousness did not occur, The lungs can quit functioning on the victim hours after. Not to mention the induced pneumonia that accompanies it that they will get assuming they survive. One will dry, but one may not heal. It's not like in Hollywood where the babe is rescued from drowning and she makes love to her rescuer immediately after. Also your point is rather mute about the skilled boat drivers. They will extract the jumper whether he is alive or dead, quickly. "less than a minute" is a time you made up on the spot, you can't bs me on that one. Been there done that. Dead or unconscious jumpers don't fight you like a drowning jumper does and are therefore quicker to extract but it is still more than a minute. 3-5mn are more realistic.

And sorry but why did you compare a totally unrelated situation and then say it's not comparable. I don't get it. FG was a friend and he could swim.
Is this a "Straw man"?
"A straw man argument is a logical fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw-man argument" is to create a position that is easy to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent. A straw-man argument can be a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it is in fact misleading, since the argument actually presented by the opponent has not been refuted."

If one can't swim, don't land in the water.
take care,
space

No way. Not 3-5 minutes, not a minute. The rescue boats at BD were pulling jumpers within seconds of landing in water.

Jumpers at Bridge Day are advised to inform the exit staff if they cannot swim. Then we radio down to water rescue so they are extra prepared. Regardless, water rescue usually reaches each jumper in less than 5 seconds.

Certainly to "start" the extraction could easily be in the sub 1mn range. Have things changed so much? Got a vid one can put a stopwatch to? Show me and I shall beleive.
Otherwise I stick by my statement.
take care,
space

Yes, with at least 4 boats in the water they were putting the boats with in 15 feet of the jumpers before their head even touched the water. I saw 1 person land in a boat last year and another miss it by less then 3 feet. I don't think that any of the water stuff made it to the video, but it was usually less then 20-30 seconds and the jumper was nice and completly in the boat.

They really have. Bridge Day rescue boats are insanely fast to respond these days. I can try to digitize some video from last year, if you want, but I honestly think that Jason's estimate of 5 seconds to initial contact is pretty realistic.

"if one can't swim don't land in the water" What about flotation, a waterski vest would be a minor issue compared to drowning. If youare worried about bulk , a short wetsuit top will give you a little help. I do agree that preparation, like getting your ass to a pool and LEARNING to swim would be better, or just don't jump if there are water hazards!

Russel lands in the water at BD and he certainly can't swim . . .

NickD
BASE 194

Because I missed "number 5" on the list and wondered why you referred to the yosemite incident. (that, and it was 2:23 in the morning when I shouldn't be posting ). My apoligies. Yes I know FG could swim. He was also a good skydiver as well as a BASE jumper.

Take care

I hope some video gets posted. I finally attended BD a couple years ago and watch the boat crew. The boat really was there in about 5 seconds.

the water rescue team does a fantastic job.
we all need to trust, respect, and appreciate them.

it's the trains that are out of control!

huh?
WRONG!!!
Russel deafentley knows how to keep his head above water,even as he cant "swim" i would say that Russel CAN swim by the fact that he can float even whith gear on..If he can move forward or backward i dunno but i would say that Russel can swim.

Space i get ya,i guess people want proves..

Jason what about floating wests and recuire cutaway handels(easy to grab like skydive)to thouse who cant swim..
after all we dont want to loose more people here and deafentley not at an event like BD..

but what do i know im just a stupied dane

learn to swim. if your jumping over water you need to be prepared.

Yeah, I'd say learning to swim is a whole lot easier, cheaper, and safer than learning to BASE jump