Woman Survives 11 Hours in Deep Water After Falling Overboard

A 32-year-old Aberdeen, Maryland woman spent last Sunday night fighting to survive in deep water after falling off a boat.

Lauren Conner was not wearing a life jacket when she fell from the stern of the boat driven by her boyfriend Steve Johnson through the Chesapeake Bay, reported The Washington Post. Conner, Johnson, and another couple spent most of last Sunday on the Bay, drinking Flying Dog lager and relaxing until shortly before nightfall. Johnson was driving the boat about 40 mph when Conner fell.

Although Conner was only about 40 yards from the boat when she fell, her friends couldn't hear her yelling or see her waving her white shorts over her head.

Johnson called 911 and guided rescuers to the site where Conner had fallen. As searchers from a variety of agencies scanned the water by boat and air, Conner worked to remain calm as she made her way toward shore.

The Bay is a mix of salt and fresh water, called an estuary. It is the largest estuary in the United States and the third largest in the world, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program. The Bay's width from shore ranges from about four miles—not far from where Conner fell in Maryland—to more than 30 miles in Virginia. Areas of the waterway are up to 174 feet deep.

Rescuers had paused their search about 2:30 AM on Monday. Before they resumed, Candy Thomson, a spokesperson for the Maryland Natural Resources Police, received a text message stating, "Girl found. Can u believe it."

By staying calm, floating, and swimming, Conner made her way back to the shore, rested, and then walked to a road at daybreak, where she was found by a passerby.

Conner did not return telephone messages for comment about the ordeal, which lasted about 11 hours.

Thomson confirmed the information provided by The Washington Post, at which her husband is employed. Although remaining calm was the perfect reaction to the situation, Thomson said Conner admitted she did a lot of things wrong. In fact, it's something of a miracle that she was rescued, according to Thomson. "She was drinking, not wearing a life jacket, and fooling around," she told Broadly.

Last year the agency recorded 21 boating fatalities on the Bay, the Potomac River, and other area waterways—a 20-year high. Thomson said 18 of those who died were not wearing life jackets.

"If you're looking for proof that life jackets save lives, there it is," she added, noting that wearing a life jacket is not currently required by law. "But just as you can't put a seat belt on when you have a car accident, you can't put your life jacket on as you fall overboard," she said. "In a car accident, you step onto land. When you have a boating accident, you are surrounded by a fierce element."

Although waterways such as the Bay and other area tributaries don't contain alligators and other similar wildlife, they do have submerged objects and a host of recreational crafts, including jet skis, which can prove fatal. In addition, landmarks that are used to navigate during the day disappear at night, which adds to the danger.

Fire extinguishers, life jackets, weather radios and other safety devices are all recommended for boaters anytime, but especially during the holiday weekend. "Make sure you can signal for help," said Thomson. "Wear a life jacket and make sure it has a whistle on it. That sound will travel much farther than a voice."