Report: Schuyler Says Cooper, Smith Left Life Jackets, Drifted Out to Sea

[Peerless]

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/03/03/schuyler-marquis-cooper-and-corey-smith-left-life-jackets-dri/

ccording to Schuyler, the man found clinging to the fishing boat on Monday, Cooper and Smith, gave up hope. The St. Petersburg Times reports:

"We were told that Nick said the two NFL players took their life jackets off and drifted out to sea," said Bob Bleakley, whose son Will, 25, is also still missing.

Nick also told the paper that two to four hours after the boat tipped over in rough waters, one of the two NFL players decided he'd had enough. A few hours later, the second one apparently did the same thing. If that isn't enough, Schuyler said that Will Bleakley, who stayed hanging on the capsized boat with Nick, told him he saw a light in the distance and decided to try and swim for it.

"I think he was delusional to think he could swim someplace," Will's father said.

While this is the first reported comment said to come from Nick Schuyler, one family member of the missing players isn't exactly sure how "together" he must be after such a traumatic experience. The newspaper reports:

Ray Sanchez, Cooper's cousin, said the Coast Guard told him the same thing, but cautioned against taking Schuyler's story as gospel at this point.

"We're not 100 percent sure where his head was at," Sanchez said. "He'd been through a lot."

The search ended at 6:30 PM ET on Tuesday.

Such a tragic story.

[#28]

Were these guys on drugs or something? Why wouldn't they wait for help? Swimming for a light in the distance, in the middle of the ocean? Not exactly rational thought, even under the circumstances.

[CinnaMunMun]

Were these guys on drugs or something? Why wouldn't they wait for help? Swimming for a light in the distance, in the middle of the ocean? Not exactly rational thought, even under the circumstances.

Hypothermia could have impaired their judgement.

[Peerless]

Hypothermia could have impaired their judgement.

But after, what was it.. only 4 hours he said??

[CinnaMunMun]

But after, what was it.. only 4 hours he said??

Depends on how cold the water was, if it was freezing, like it can be early in the morning or late at night, they could have gotten it. The passengers in the flight that crashed into the Hudson were probably only a couple of hours from life-threatening hypothermia.

Not to mention, Schuyler's sense of time could have been off, especially if he was suffering from hypothermia.

[IHSD]

Honestly, if I was out in the middle of the ocean, hanging onto a tipped boat for my life, I probably wouldn't be too optimistic. It's a sad sad story and terrible way to die. I feel awful sorry for their families.

[Peerless]

Depends on how cold the water was, if it was freezing, like it can be early in the morning or late at night, they could have gotten it. The passengers in the flight that crashed into the Hudson were probably only a couple of hours from life-threatening hypothermia.

Not to mention, Schuyler's sense of time could have been off, especially if he was suffering from hypothermia.

That's true. We'll probably never know the real cause.... But I can't imagine trying to hang on for dear life on an upside boat with 13 foot waves.

Its hard to beleive that 2 NFL players who spent their whole lives training against all odds to become part of a league of pros that is so hard to get into would just give up hope after 2-4 hours.

It's a terrible feeling just knowing that they possibly would have just given up.

[#28]

Sorry, but I don't know a lot about how boats work. Do all boats that capsize continue to float like that? To have been able to keep using it to hang onto is what saved this guy's life.

I didn't mean to be rude or inconsiderate earlier, this is horrible, I remember seeing Corey Smith play and thought well of him. Its just that if one survived, then all of them probably could have.

[chazoe60]

That is horrifying, sad, and tragic.

[CinnaMunMun]

Sorry, but I don't know a lot about how boats work. Do all boats that capsize continue to float like that? To have been able to keep using it to hang onto is what saved this guy's life.

I didn't mean to be rude or inconsiderate earlier, this is horrible, I remember seeing Corey Smith play and thought well of him. Its just that if one survived, then all of them probably could have.

Usually they float I think.

I don't think you were being inconsiderate, it was an honest concern and question and sadly the most tragic part was that they all might have survived if they stayed with the boat. I think it is just important that we honor those lost and cherish the fact that someone did make it back.

[Spice 1]

Hypothermia could have impaired their judgement.

Exactly. Water got pretty cold that night. Hypothermia is something that is hard to deal with if you haven't trained your mind to overcome it. SEAL's go through rigorous training just to be able to block it out and focus. I just can't believe the boat capsized so easy.

[Legendary30]

The water was 63 degrees?? That doesn't seem cold.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-missingboaters-nfl&prov=ap&type=lgns

MADIERA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—The search for two NFL players and a third man missing in the Gulf of Mexico was scaled back Thursday, but charter boat operators said they still hoped to recover their remains.

Charter captains planned to keep an eye out when they take customers out to fish, but there wasn’t the dedicated effort of Wednesday, when around a dozen boats combed the Gulf off Florida for signs of the missing men.

“At this point it appears to be a recovery effort, and where that would be, is pretty much a needle in a haystack,” said Marti Heath, a charter captain who operates out of John’s Pass near St. Petersburg. “So what we’re trying to do is have the people out there so at least there can be some closure” for the families.

The Coast Guard called off its search Tuesday for Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions last season, and former South Florida player William Bleakley.

The friends have been missing since their boat overturned while they were on a fishing trip Saturday in rough seas. A fourth man, Nick Schuyler, was rescued by the Coast Guard Monday.

Cooper’s family and friends, holding out hope that he is still alive, spearheaded the private effort.

Heath, a board member of the Merchant Marine Captains Association, which is organizing much of the private search, said charter captains were changing their fishing locations so they’ll be in areas of the Gulf where they are more likely to find some sign of the men. And they’re still in touch with the families.

Another captain, Dane Karcher, said his charter company’s four vessels would be making 12 fishing trips to the area through the weekend.

“We’re keeping our eyes open,” he said.

On Wednesday, Cooper’s 21-foot boat was located and towed in with little visible damage.

The men left Clearwater Pass in calm weather, but heavy winds picked up through the day and the seas got rough, with waves peaking at 15 feet. A relative alerted the Coast Guard early Sunday after the men did not return as expected.

Schuyler, 24, is in good condition and continues to recover at a Tampa hospital. A doctor said it was a miracle that he survived being in the 63-degree Gulf water for around 46 hours before he was rescued, 35 miles off Clearwater

[Peerless]

63 degrees may not seem cold.... but after 46 hours it will feel like ice.

A normal body temperature is somewhere near 98.6 degrees.

The water may feel nice for a couple of hours.... but days? You'll freeze and become hypothermic.

[armedequation]

delirium is very common in hypothermia symptoms. What was described by the suvivor in what happened is not surprising. They described seeing lights close by, but when out on the water what may seem close is actually a great distance. When being rescued, it is often that the person will try to swim toward us when it is best for them to stay where they are, if there is not immediate danger to them.

the best thing you can do is stay in the most optimal spot to conserve energy, energy which your body is using to shiver and keep warm. Depending on various things such as energy level, body build, and mental fitness will effect when hypothermia can set in.

[Apoc13]

Sorry, but I don't know a lot about how boats work. Do all boats that capsize continue to float like that? To have been able to keep using it to hang onto is what saved this guy's life.

normally a boat would likely sink...but this type of boat had a hull filled with styrofoam....so it's damn near impossible to sink

and about that 4 hour thing....to them it may have seemed like 4 hours but was really 14...who knows

the only reason the one guy survived was because he was on the boat when they found him, not in the water

63 degrees seems warm but it's not when so much time is spent in it...you just last longer than if the temp was 45

imagine just leaving your life vest and floating away....tough way to die