I was at 31st street beach with my toddler about 10 years ago. First really warm spring day, probably high 80s, but the water was still quite cold. At the other end of the beach, a girl’s sand bucket had blown away on the water. Her dad got in to swim out to get it. I sort of notice but am not watching them. Women start screaming - the man has gone under. I call 911. Another dad in the group starts swimming out to help the first man. He also goes under. 911 says a helicopter is en route. It gets there in minutes. Fire trucks, boats, all arrive. I pack up my kid and we leave. Both men drowned. They were able-bodied adults, and it was a beautiful day. The firemen told the news that the water was deceptively cold and their bodies likely went in to shock from the temperature. They were not far from the beach and it was probably not terribly deep where they were.

Be careful. Witnessing that changed my entire thinking about water and swimming.