DEEP WATER

SUMMARY

Introduction

• In this autobiographical account Douglas discusses his fear of water and how he
finally overcame it.

His aversion to water.

• His mother warned him about the treacherous Yakima river.

• Updated him with the details of each drowning in the river.

• His beach experience in California with his father when he was 3 or 4 yrs. old
added fuel to his fear.

• He was knocked down by waves and buried in water. He was breathless and
frightened.

• The misadventure happened when he was thrown into the deep end of the YMCA
pool by a big bully.

• He was frightened but not out of his wits.

• He could not come to the surface and almost drowned.

The impact of the Misadventure at YMCA Pool.

• For days he was haunted by the fear of water.

• Felt weak and trembling. Icy horror grabbed his heart.

• He feared water and avoided it whenever he could.

• The fear deprived him of the pleasures of fishing, canoeing, boating and
swimming.

His determination to learn swimming.

• He employed an instructor to learn swimming.

• The instructor made him to practice five days a week, an hour everyday.

• He put a belt around him and a rope attached to the belt went through a pulley.

• The instructor held the end of the rope and taught him how to inhale and exhale.

• He learned all the strokes of swimming in six months.

How he Conquered his fear?

• Went to Lake Wentworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island.

• Swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island.

• The fear fled as he swam on.

Lesson learnt from his experience.

• He experienced both the feelings-the sensation of dying and the terror that fear
can produce.

• The will to live grew in intensity.