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My mother was a lifeguard and was swimming in a medium-sized empty pool surrounded by other lifeguards (her colleagues). Her leg cramped badly and she went unde

My mother was a lifeguard and was swimming in a medium-sized empty pool surrounded by other lifeguards (her colleagues). Her leg cramped badly and she went under, she said the pain of trying to move was unbearable. She crumpled up at the bottom of the pool and nearly drowned before her one of her fellow lifeguards noticed something was wrong and saved her. That story's always stuck in my head.

MandieD 5y ago
That is the most personally terrifying thing I’ve ever read. I’m a strong swimmer, and have never been afraid for myself in still water. Hopefully, if I ever get a leg cramp, your story will make me realize the danger and quickly scream for help before going under.
- YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
  I occasionally have leg cramps while swimming- I never felt I was in danger though. Is it really that dangerous? I'm talking about painful cramps where I really can't use the leg that's cramping before a few minutes go by. Generally what I do is swear the air purple (it really bloody hurts) and try to keep the cramping leg extended (it's normally the muscle in the back of my tibia that cramps and it wants to draw my heel back, so I push the other way until it gives up). I thrash a lot and go under the water for sure, but I can still swimm with the remaining limbs. I don't know what I'd do if both legs cramped at the same time, but one leg so far I've been able to handle. Edit: now that I think of it, I've had both legs cramp, except not at the same time- a few minutes apart. I was getting used to very long flippers (fins?) and I got two cramps a few minutes apart, one in each leg.
  - Rendello 5y ago
    It may have been both legs in that story. I know another time, she was swimming next to a canoe and they started cramping, and so she had to grab on. In that case, the leg cramp(s?) were less severe, luckily.
    - YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
      Yea, if it's both legs- or the abdomen...
- difosfor 5y ago
  Have also made it back ashore when swimming by myself in the see after getting a pretty bad cramp in one of my calves. Lots of swearing as well, went into floating position on my back and tried to stretch it out to no avail. Finally just kind of half floated half swam back over what felt like 10 minutes or so until I could call out to a friend. Have stayed a bit closer to people after that
meristem 5y ago
I almost drowned in college, during swim class, due to cramping. A fellow student pulled me up. The instructor never got in the water.

MandieD 5y ago

That is the most personally terrifying thing I’ve ever read. I’m a strong swimmer, and have never been afraid for myself in still water. Hopefully, if I ever get a leg cramp, your story will make me realize the danger and quickly scream for help before going under.

YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
I occasionally have leg cramps while swimming- I never felt I was in danger though. Is it really that dangerous? I'm talking about painful cramps where I really can't use the leg that's cramping before a few minutes go by. Generally what I do is swear the air purple (it really bloody hurts) and try to keep the cramping leg extended (it's normally the muscle in the back of my tibia that cramps and it wants to draw my heel back, so I push the other way until it gives up). I thrash a lot and go under the water for sure, but I can still swimm with the remaining limbs. I don't know what I'd do if both legs cramped at the same time, but one leg so far I've been able to handle. Edit: now that I think of it, I've had both legs cramp, except not at the same time- a few minutes apart. I was getting used to very long flippers (fins?) and I got two cramps a few minutes apart, one in each leg.
- Rendello 5y ago
  It may have been both legs in that story. I know another time, she was swimming next to a canoe and they started cramping, and so she had to grab on. In that case, the leg cramp(s?) were less severe, luckily.
  - YeGoblynQueenne 5y ago
    Yea, if it's both legs- or the abdomen...
difosfor 5y ago
Have also made it back ashore when swimming by myself in the see after getting a pretty bad cramp in one of my calves. Lots of swearing as well, went into floating position on my back and tried to stretch it out to no avail. Finally just kind of half floated half swam back over what felt like 10 minutes or so until I could call out to a friend. Have stayed a bit closer to people after that

meristem 5y ago

I almost drowned in college, during swim class, due to cramping. A fellow student pulled me up. The instructor never got in the water.