A Close Call
November 18, 2008, Matthew Good It’s been a bit of a tense morning. My younger brother is a commercial diver and owns and operates a boat up north, which means that during specific seasons he’s gone for extended periods of time. This morning, while driving a friend’s truck to the tenders he hit a stretch of black ice, lost control, and went over a 30 foot embankment. Thankfully he walked away unhurt, though had to stand in the freezing cold for an hour and a half until someone picked him up – even though the police were called twice.
Personally, I don’t know what’s worse, hearing stories like that or the ones where he gets caught in storms and his boat is cresting swells so large that everyone on board is literally hanging on to something with their feet dangling in mid air.
This little symbol lets you @ another comment
Dear Mr. Good,
Glad to hear that your brother is okay. I lost my brother 10 months ago today to cancer, and your post just reminded me of the anniversary. He was 42 and died a mere 6 weeks after diagnosis. I miss him terribly.
It’s morbid I know - but given that your brother experiences danger on a regular basis, ensure his affairs are in order, especially if he has dependants. A will, power of attorney and other directives.
Otherwise, tell him that a simple kind act may be in order - since the universe was kind to him today. Good karma and all…
jesus!
Wow! I can’t imagine his thoughts and feelings while waiting for help. As Beautiful 101 says, the universe what kind to him today. Sending wellness waves his way…
glad to hear that he is ok …….. that would scare the F out of me
You’d be sure to find me consuming copious amounts of alcohol after a close call like that …. but the “hey by the way, i love you” phone calls would be first
sigh of relief
That would have been a long hour and a half - it’s cold up here right now at about -17C and that is without the windchill! Glad he is OK. Once the fall hits I never travel anywhere in the car without some proper outdoor gear in case I can’t keep ‘er between the rhubarb and go into the ditch. If he hit black ice it’s likely he was not the only one which might explain the wait for the coppers.
i am relieved to hear everything is okay!
It is good to hear that your brother is ok.
scary! Glad he is okay! My brother was a passenger in a car that a semi literally ran right over and that sure made me look at things a little differently after that… but I still also kicked his ass for scaring me to death!
glad to hear that your brother is alright matt, but damn that’s scary.
Holy shit Matt! I’m glad he’s ok. Seriously.
Yikes! Glad he is ok. That’s the kind of experience that makes you reevaluate your priorities.
Oh My God!
Scary.
Glad Chris is okay.
Working on or under water is always fraught with danger, so it’s ironic that your brother’s close call was on the road. Not the kind of news you, your parents, his wife or children want to hear on any given day – especially when a phone call is all the comfort you will get. Sounds like one sturdy fellow.
Someone or something certainly had his back today, thank goodness. He should buy a lottery ticket!
Close calls like these are reality checks. A reminder that any one of us in a flash could be gone. You should take him out, buy him a beer, and tell him you love him.
Glad to see you’ll be on the right side of the river….With 2 bridges being built, sounds like a potential great investment as well.
im with Jenny in Toronto on this one!
Glad Chris is okay..winter sucks!
Sounds like a narrow escape, for sure. Ironic, given the dangers Chris faces at sea that he should have an accident on terra firma.
I’m glad your brothers ok Matt.
Over the years after losing friends to natural causes or accidents in racing (which is my work) plus also witnessing a fatality, it has made me become more reflective and appreciative of my family and friends.
One never knows when their time’s up.
So glad your brother is OK, Matt. That must have been a terrifying experience and, from the sound of it, one of a few life threatening moments he has had.
thanks god your borther is ok that is so hard on loved one when you get into a accident and are not sure what is going on and when or if help is coming god bless
well that’s one hell of an experience to have. i’m thankful all turned out well.
warm thoughts to you and your brother.
That’s scary. Glad to hear he is okay!
He has quite a dangerous job, a man at sea is always a man at risk. Makes a personal humble, huh?
shit Matt.
glad to hear he’s ok.
I bet your bro means a great deal to a lot of people, and his children are precious…I’m very happy he’s alright…
Man, your poor parents must be so relieved…. again.
Am I the only one that had to Google Commercial Diving? Sounds like a rough job to do on the regular.
What’s up with the police not showing up for nearly 2 hours???
Thank god he’s alright.
There are angels around you guys I think.
Whoa! Scary stuff! So glad to hear he’s alright!!
Jesus. :/
Holy crap! Just reading that (both about the accident and the danger of his profession) made me want to cry. That is really scary to think about, and I’m so happy your brother is okay, Matt!
Im thinking a little black ice was nothing for him considering I just got terrified reading about the ocean swells… eep
That being said… thank goodness no one was hurt.
Hapy to hear he come out of it unharmed.
I am so glad to hear Chris is OK.! I felt sick reading this. My sister passed away at age 16 (28 years ago ) when a patch of black ice made quick work of throwing her car in the ditch. Her neck broke and she died instantly. Let’s just say I’m always on the lookout for the “shady spots” when I’m winter driving….I hope he is too.
You have a brother? Wow, I feel like I live under a rock sometimes. Good to hear he’s alright.
So very glad to hear your brother is okay, Matt. Very scary.
@Beautiful101–what a recent loss for you, my condolences. Too young.
Glad to hear your brother’s OK. We just got a foot of snow here, and all you ever hear for the first week is how many fender benders occurred on the highways because of the snow.
Oh my God….thank goodness he’s o.k.!!
I’ve had the pleasure of “speaking” to your brother/sister in law via FB/Myspace (yes - back in the day)….very down to earth, good people from what I’ve gathered.
It IS a worry to have a loved one out there at sea - as the daughter of a fisherman, I know that feeling all too well.
My heart dropped as I started to read your entry….
I am so glad that he was able to walk away. I can’t even imagine the fear that was going through his head when it was happening. I’m just so happy that he is ok.
Can’t believe that the police had to be called twice though…what the…?
glad he’s ok…
I’m so glad he is doing well. WOW that is crazy. I can not imagine how you all felt when you heard the news.
Glad Chris is ok…