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I want to preface this by saying that I have been wade fishing Baffin Bay for the last 23 years. I live in the Houston area, but normally get down that way 3 – 4 times a year. Sometimes we fish with guides, and other times we fish out of our own boat.
On this trip I had the privilege of staying at the Poco Loco Lodge and fishing with Capt. Jim Onderdonk and Capt. Scott Hibbetts. On the second day of our adventure after catching trout to 27 in., flounder to 24 in., and numerous slot size redfish, something happened that will forever change my life.
After fishing by myself most of the morning, I made my way over to the rest of our party fishing a large area of sand pot-holes on the grass flat. With no warning and for no apparent reason, I blacked out. I spent at least a minute under water before my dad and the rest of the group realized I was missing. My dad pulled me out of the water. I was pretty much filled up with salt water but had a faint pulse.
The following quick decisions and actions by Capt. Onderdonk kept my wife from being widow and my 3 young children from being fatherless. I was immediately put into a boat, had my ray guards taken off, and Capt. Donk started working to get the water out of me. The Coast Guard was called, but being in a remote location, no ETA could be given. Therefore knowing it was approximately 30 minutes away, Capt. Hibbetts proceeded to get me to the boat ramp pushing his boat to the limits. While traveling across a rough bay at 55 mph, Capt. Donk continued to work on getting the water out of me. At one point I regained consciousness, even though I don’t remember, and became combative. Capt. Donk continued to try and restrain me and get the water out, all the while traveling at a high rate of speed across a rough bay and defending himself from someone full of adrenaline in fight or flight mode.
The ambulance was waiting at the dock. From there I went to the medical center in Kingsville and then haloed to the trauma center in Corpus Christi. I spent two days in the ICU and another three in the hospital. After numerous tests the doctors know I don’t have a tumor or aneurism, but they don’t know exactly why I blacked out.
On behalf of my family, friends, wife, kids, and myself I would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who took care of me, and Capt. Jim Onderdonk for his quick decisions and actions that saved my life…and for the great fishing and hospitality at the Poco Loco. I can’t wait for my next trip, although my wife will probably make me wear a life jacket and fish out of an inner tube.
Kirk
On this trip I had the privilege of staying at the Poco Loco Lodge and fishing with Capt. Jim Onderdonk and Capt. Scott Hibbetts. On the second day of our adventure after catching trout to 27 in., flounder to 24 in., and numerous slot size redfish, something happened that will forever change my life.
After fishing by myself most of the morning, I made my way over to the rest of our party fishing a large area of sand pot-holes on the grass flat. With no warning and for no apparent reason, I blacked out. I spent at least a minute under water before my dad and the rest of the group realized I was missing. My dad pulled me out of the water. I was pretty much filled up with salt water but had a faint pulse.
The following quick decisions and actions by Capt. Onderdonk kept my wife from being widow and my 3 young children from being fatherless. I was immediately put into a boat, had my ray guards taken off, and Capt. Donk started working to get the water out of me. The Coast Guard was called, but being in a remote location, no ETA could be given. Therefore knowing it was approximately 30 minutes away, Capt. Hibbetts proceeded to get me to the boat ramp pushing his boat to the limits. While traveling across a rough bay at 55 mph, Capt. Donk continued to work on getting the water out of me. At one point I regained consciousness, even though I don’t remember, and became combative. Capt. Donk continued to try and restrain me and get the water out, all the while traveling at a high rate of speed across a rough bay and defending himself from someone full of adrenaline in fight or flight mode.
The ambulance was waiting at the dock. From there I went to the medical center in Kingsville and then haloed to the trauma center in Corpus Christi. I spent two days in the ICU and another three in the hospital. After numerous tests the doctors know I don’t have a tumor or aneurism, but they don’t know exactly why I blacked out.
On behalf of my family, friends, wife, kids, and myself I would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who took care of me, and Capt. Jim Onderdonk for his quick decisions and actions that saved my life…and for the great fishing and hospitality at the Poco Loco. I can’t wait for my next trip, although my wife will probably make me wear a life jacket and fish out of an inner tube.
Kirk
LIVIN THE SALT LIFE 
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