You were fortunate. I was only kayaking once but we had life jackets. No rapids involved and we were in the Meramec river.

Where was Charlie when you went under?

Scary stuff. I can relate to that.

I did loads of surfing and windsurfing when I was younger. You’ve got to treat open stretches of water with so much respect.

Me and my mate knew our limits and wouldn’t go out if we knew that the conditions were too risky. We’d check it out, look at each other…..nah.

Asshole is right! Good thing you had your wits about you and obviously had done kyaking before.

I would've dumped him too!

I lived on the Mississippi river for about ten years. When it would flood, we'd have to park at the levee and boat in and out along with trundling the dogs to the levee to do their business. The dogs always minded and knew what to do.

But one time his dog rushed for the stairs up to the house. Out I went in a flip, landed on my butt, and the boat went over my legs holding me there. It felt like it took forever to get it off me and get up for air, all the while the other dog was looking over the rail of the boat at me under water. I seriously was next to not making it. I got over to the stairs and his dog knew he was in trouble. He jumped back in the boat and hid his face in the stern while I had to swim after it down the river. I managed to get it, get it back to the stairs and never had a problem with either of them ever again

I told him when he got home....he had a similar response to your doctor. Between a lot of things, I didn't remain much longer myself.

I think, I rather stay on land, maybe running, no, no, strolling is the word, just strolling.

What a dick...smfh

Good experience for yourself and that relationship. Glad you made it.

Sometimes I forget; you've dated some losers.

I'm glad you were able to save yourself. Happy to hear you dumped his sorry ass.

A harrowing near death tale. Yes, you were lucky to survive. I bet next time you stick to your guns. Glad you made it through. Wow.

You did really good! Outsmarted danger !

I barely made it out of Lake Michigan last Labor Day. Just swimming, no boats. Took my last bit of energy, I gave it all I had , swam straight to shore.... sure woke me up to the "simple" dangers !

I have done white water rafting many times in New Mexico and calm water canoing all with life jackets. I have avoided kayaking just out of being nervous. Maybe unnecessarily so, but still nervous.

I might do rapids in a raft, with an experienced and bonded company. Other than that I'd just rake picture hiking next to the river.

I have done cameoing, on the cnoother part of the Columbia or Colorado rivers, but I just never trusted kayaks, as they flip to easily.

An added factor to drowning in rivers, is that even when the surface appears smooth you can still be in danger. For instance the main channel of the Columbia can be more than 50 feet deep, and the water under the surface can and often does flow faster than the water on near the surface, creating an undertow than can pull people under. Even the best of swimmers who are unaware of the phenomena may panic if they encounter and undertow in a river, which can happen in many, usually larger, rivers.

Boaters, who think it is safe to dive in due to the depth indicators, often get surprised and swept down river faster than their boats will drift on the surface currents. Boating on rivers is very different form boating on lakes.

Been there, sorta done that, except my head wasn't underwater when I got pinned. It was a lotta fun. But I don't have any desired to do that any more.

I have limited experience mountain hiking and no experience kayaking rapids. I know one thing from hiking and that is don't do it with someone who is likely to take unnecessary risks (like leaving the trail, etc.) I think the whole scenario you described was an unnecessary risk and the doctor sounds like a total jerk. After 30 plus years of marriage, I have learned not to pressure my partner into doing something he does not want to do. That was the doc's first mistake. Good on you for having the strength and resilience to get yourself out of that whole situation.

WOW! What an ass. I've had 2 episodes of getting into trouble on the water - both involved drinking I was not paying attention to. A leisurely canoe trip on the Puyallup and then a lovely restored wooden 16 footer with an outboard motor and lower cabin for sleeping, we put in at the Vantage ramp on the Columbia.
I'm done with water craft.

Yikes...glad you made it