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Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

independent.co.uk

51–60 of 81 posts

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#51
post #4

There's a reason why they say that "you're not dead until you're warm and dead"! The case of Anna Bågenholm [1] is similarly fascinating. She was in cold meltwater for 80 minutes before being pulled out, and made a ~full recovery. Her core temperature was around 56 degrees when they began resuscitation. It is truly amazing how effective hypothermia is at preserving bodily function! [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An…

For the convenience of non-US commenters/readers: that's 13 C.

I don't get why his comment was downvoted.

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#52

Did anyone else catch the doctor mentioning that the boy recently asked for a mojito? It's a bit surprising that a 14 year old would ask for alcohol in a country where the drinking age is 18. But hey, it's Italy, perhaps there significantly more relaxed about kids drinking than Americans like me!

A mojito!? How dare that kid. Next thing we know, teenagers who return to life after death will be asking for a line of coke and a couple strippers. What is wrong with the world??

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And for those who don't regularly swim in open water, that's f *g cold.

having been in the water below a dam its amazing just how cold it can be. The best part is, watching a friend drop an expensive knife in less than four feet of water and unable to retrieve it cause of the cold. Fortunately a few young kids came wading down the same river in this water and when they asked my friend what was wrong he pointed to the knife and the one kid simply went under and got it. and to my point, pe…

Having watched my kids grow up while observing this effect, I've come to the conclusion that kids' nervous systems aren't as sensitive as adults. That, or they are just brain damaged. :)

Ignorance is an interesting question. Does it not bother them because they haven't been conditioned that it bothers them? It makes me think of pain. The anxiety of anticipating pain and of what experiencing the pain will be like is often as or more significant than the pain itself and can cause significant impact on the sufferer's life irrespective of the pain itself. Dogs, on the other hand, do not anticipate the pain, so, even when they hurt, it doesn't have the same impact on their lives.

That's a long way around to get to this: maybe it's not the discomfort of the cold itself that is highly uncomfortable, but the anxiety of the anticipation of what the cold will be like, and that is not something kids have the experience to, well, experience.

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#54

It seems that the cold water also contributed to his survival. He only had to lose a lower leg, no brain damage. This is always the question: very nice you are able to survive x y or z, but in what condition do you get out of it: like a vegetable or like a human being?

Wasn't this also a factor:

"The team also used a technique called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to extract oxygen-deprived blood, warm it up and add oxygen, before pumping it back into the body, The Times reported.

After 10 days of using the technique, which mimics the function of the heart, while Michael was in an induced coma, he survived."

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And for those who don't regularly swim in open water, that's f *g cold.

having been in the water below a dam its amazing just how cold it can be. The best part is, watching a friend drop an expensive knife in less than four feet of water and unable to retrieve it cause of the cold. Fortunately a few young kids came wading down the same river in this water and when they asked my friend what was wrong he pointed to the knife and the one kid simply went under and got it. and to my point, pe…

If they were locals they were probably just used to it.

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#57
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just for interest: why shouldn't be on the front page? Why do you think this is off topic? And what should? What do you think is on-topic?

I'm surprised you're surprised. A lot of people associate HN with software and startups. They don't realise its scope is a bit broader.

Nothing in my comment indicates surprise.

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#59
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

no love for the Justice League loser?

Simple jokes are almost always voted down. Even when they're funny, they're not the target tone of the site. It's not personal, it's just an editorial and community-direction choice.

I had noticed everyone had the same typical serious programmer personality here. That's why I enjoy reddit a lot more because it's not like that 100% of the time.

Re: Italian boy survives being trapped underwater for 42 minutes

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And for those who don't regularly swim in open water, that's f *g cold.

having been in the water below a dam its amazing just how cold it can be. The best part is, watching a friend drop an expensive knife in less than four feet of water and unable to retrieve it cause of the cold. Fortunately a few young kids came wading down the same river in this water and when they asked my friend what was wrong he pointed to the knife and the one kid simply went under and got it. and to my point, pe…

Wim Hof who holds the world record for immersing himself in ice water says he uses his mind. He has been involved in some interesting experiments.

http://www.icemanwimhof.com/science

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