Describe the efforts made by Douglas to save himself from drowning in the YMCA swimming pool.

 

Answer – 

Douglas was dragged into the deep end of the YMCA swimming pool. Those nine feet seemed a long way down at the time. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he gathered all of his strength and sprung upward. He slowly arose, opened his eyes, and saw only water. He reached up as if for a rope, but his hands only clutched at water. He flailed at the water’s surface, swallowed, and choked. He attempted to raise his legs, but they hung as if paralyzed. He began his journey back to the pool’s bottom once more.

Then he remembered the plan: he would spring from the bottom of the pool and float to the surface like a cork. He’d lie flat on the water and thrash around with his arms and legs. Then he’d get to the pool’s edge and be safe. The jump made no difference yet again, and Douglas eventually gave up and relaxed as blockness swept over his brain.

 

 

Check out more Questions and Answers from Deep Water

 

How did Douglas develop an aversion to water?

Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this experience?

How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer? 

‘This handicap stayed with me as the years rolled by.’ Which handicap is being referred to and what are the events that made Douglas handicapped?

The childhood experience of terror of Douglas made him stronger and more determined. Elucidate the above statement supporting it with evidence from the text.

How does Douglas overcome his fear of water?