Ordeal in the sea The expert view on how to survive a fall into water
Q Can you fall from the seventh deck without getting injured? A Experts said the only way to fall such a height without injury would be to hit the water feet first and bolt upright.
Simon Jinks, a sea survival instructor, said: “If you fall, the chances of breaking something or [a limb] becoming detached is quite high.
“The safest way to land is upright. You would have to keep your legs together and go in straight, like a pencil.
“If you landed sideways you would have bruising at the very least.
“If she fell 12 metres, for example, that’s the equivalent of falling from the top of a house.
“Bear in mind that you have got to try to ‘fall’ off a ship.” Q How else could such a fall affect you? A MR Jinks said that jumping in bolt upright would be incredibly painful if barefoot. “Water is hard,” he said. “It does give but that initial landing will hurt and it winds you.” Q
What improves your chances of survival? A “If you fall and it is unexpected, it can cause severe anxiety. It’s a big shock. Ultimately, survival comes down to state of mind. It is the will to survive. If you think you are going to survive then you will probably find a way of doing it.” Q What do you do in the water to stay alive? A “The best thing to do is to float in a star shape, spreading out your body weight.
“She probably did this, or trod water.
“You can also remove clothes to trap air and use them as a buoyancy aid.” Q
What if you have been drinking? A “You can get quite numb to these things if you have been drinking.
“There are lots of cases of people who have fallen overboard and are more relaxed.” Q
How lucky was Kay Longstaff to survive? A “This woman was in the sea a long time and is very lucky indeed. She apparently survived without buoyancy for several hours.
“To remain conscious for that long is remarkable. The water was slightly warmer than a swimming pool. In the UK, she would have died, without any shadow of a doubt.”
Victoria Ward