Tragic, needless.

A Limestone man drowned Saturday while canoeing on the St. John River.

He didn't know how to swim, and wasn't wearing a life jacket. Poor judgment, a simple mistake, but very costly one.

I just feel awful for the man and his family. It didn't need to happen.

If you're out on the water--anywhere, anytime--you've just got to have a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) on. Period.

A few years back, while guiding on the Dead River, my raft flipped in a big hole and dumped everybody in the river. My paddlers all got picked up quickly by other boats in our party, but I ended up taking a very long, very cold swim through the rapids. I was finally fished out of the water about a mile down river, and I can tell you, I wouldn't have made it without a life jacket. No way.

I'll bet many of you can tell a similar tale.

Don't take chances. Wear your PFD. Always!