Peter Engel, just before dying in rafting accident

These are the 5 men who had to be rescued from the Croton River after Hurricane Irene. Dr. Engle (in purple life vest) died shortly after when the raft capsized.

www.markstevenson.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Croton river
• Hurricane Irene
• Peter Engel
• rafting accident
• deadoutdoor
• sports

[KramNosnevets]

I've thought a lot about this video since I shot it. When asked how I felt I said things like dumbfounded but the fact is what I was really feeling was shame

Confronted with the inconceivable people respond with anger. We like our boundaries. Audacious behavior (risking to save lives or to push what is possible) is humbling. It calls into question what we believe to be our limits - shattering illusions and forcing us to re-imagine what is possible in our own life

[PerfectPixieWings02]

They all got what they deserved... out of all those people INCLUDING THE ONE FILMING, YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THEM, or CALLED FOR HELP... smart on all of you...

[KramNosnevets]

@PerfectPixieWings02, Thanks for the Monday morning QB. What EXACTLY would you have done to stop them??? I guess we could have called the cops, but the bottom line is these guys knew what they wanted to do. I don't think they cared about police or anyone else. They were not sneaking around. Plenty of people (including me) commented to them on how dangerous and stupid it was - But that was self evident. Were not children and get to make choices. Unfortunately It is not a Perfect Pixie Wing World.

[KramNosnevets]

Apparently one of these guys died earlier tonight. My thoughts go out to his family and thanks to the FD/EMS Croton volunteers who tried so hard to save him and managed to rescue his friends.

[trendon]

I am going to sound horribly callous, but people die. These guys tried something out that they thought would be cool and fun and interesting and it went poorly. Shit happens. If I were on that river and saw them, I'd cheer them on. Judging by this video, they were at the very least, prepared; they had some safety gear.

The mortality on this planet is 100% and hasn't moved. In fact, even with the death, I still think it was a cool thing to try.

[frankietube69]

I met Peter many years ago, the year he married and he was an extremely warm, funny and kind hearted man who was bursting with zest and good humour. Peter was a delight to be with and was intent on becoming a psychiatrist although he was already a talented actor. Before you criticise, consider the last time you messed up, yet managed to walk away from it. Driving, motorcycling, playing sports? Peter and his friends made an error of judgement but to err is human. Peter and family, god bless.

[jo3tag]

@trendon Mixed feeling about your comment. I'm all for taking risks to get a thrill, but there's risk taking, and just plain igorance of the situation. The finest safety gear in the world will not get you off an tree with what appears to be a river running 2,000 CFS or more pushing you against it. You can say they just risked their lives and one lost, but they risked the rescuers lives who would not have gotten near that river had they not been there to pull their dumb asses out.

[jo3tag]

@hunterthelord Absolutely! That river is just an alley between two endless lines of strainers. It's a wonder they all didn't get drowned.

[hunterthelord]

WHEN THE WATER IS UP IN THE TREE'S STAY OUT OF THE WATER. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

[cherlovestrong]

@wompeter1 And that is their choice alone. Not the other risk takers fault. What I said was in response to people blaming the rafters for the dangerous rescue that befell the rescue workers.

[wompeter1]

@cherlovestrong Less the thrill-seeker mentality than the desire to do everything possible to save another person's life. Even if that person is a stupid jackass who shouldn't have been out there in the first place.

[wompeter1]

Read the Men's Journal article on these idiots. They FAILED to acknowledge the danger of debris; they FAILED to plan their route beforehand; they FAILED to have an emergency plan; they failed to do STANDARD safety walks along the route. This was ALL fueled by Jackass Mind and little-head thinking. In my mind, the rescue workers should have stood by and let them rescue themselves. In this age of Social Darwinism, they FAILED.

[wompeter1]

@raindep These thrill-seekers only would have harmed themselves if they'd been left to their own rescue. Not true of DWI, violent crime, or domestic abuse. Get a brain, "moran."

[wompeter1]

@trendon The problem with this "cool thing" is that local emergency rescue workers were ALSO put at risk, pulling these testosterone-addled MORONS out of their "cool and fun and interesting" stunt. I am going to sound horribly callous, but these idiots should have been left to RESCUE THEMSELVES and not involve less-stupid public servants in their salvation.

[MsMonkeyBean]

to their families, we are so sorry.