PA Terri Clawson checks-out Jim Bell at the Tinian clinic after his 26+ hour swim from Saipan to Tinian
Jim Bell left for Tinian about 9am Saturday morning from a beach on Saipan. By the time the sun went down, it was clear he was not going to make it to Tinian...at least not that day. The swift current running between the two islands was running west to east--away from Tinian--and basically swept him out into the Pacific Ocean. The current switched for a short time that night, bringing him back toward Tinian, but it soon changed again, and he lost all the progress he made. By midnight there were coast-watchers stationed at the north of Tinian island, and a helicopter was sent out to find him--which they did...only they didn't know it! The helicopter had two large lights shining on either side to light up the ocean. The problem was, that the helicopter flew directly over Jim, and the lights were shining on either side of him, so they didn't see him before they returned to base.
I was contacted by the Guam Coast Guard that were helping in the search effort, in an attempt to figure out where Jim was. There wasn't very good communication between Jim and the people on Tinian, so we didn't know much. We all went to bed thinking Jim had become fish food.
The next morning a boat was sent out, and the helicopter also, in an attempt to see if they could find Jim. They quickly found him about 2 miles NE of Tinian. He had been swimming all night, fighting against the current in the channel. Finally, in the morning, he began to get help by a current moving towards Tinian. He waved off the helicopter, deciding he was still okay to complete the swim. However, the boat that was sent out followed him until he hit shore about 11am on Sunday...about 27 hrs after leaving Saipan!
Once touching shore, the Tinian Safety Dept. crew picked him up and took him by boat around the south end of the island to the dock, and straight to the clinic to be checked out. Terri was on-call, so she ran over to make sure he was still alive and well--I followed to see this crazy swimmer. Other than being a little sun-burned, he looked and acted just fine!
Jim said they only bad part was that the jellyfish come to the surface of the water at night...so for a large part of the night he was swimming through fields of jelly-fish, and getting stung by them. He said it was fortunate that he was not allergic to 'this kind' of jellyfish--he had received so many stings over the years, it didn't bother him--too much anyway.
He felt good enough to come to a Mormon church meeting that afternoon! We took him to get a few things at the store, then sent him to his apartment for rest (he hadn't slept since Saturday morning either). So for all those Jim Bell watching...he is alive and well and now living on Tinian for a short while...as he intends to 'swim around' the island.
5 comments:
Really interesting.
"I followed to see this crazy swimmer."
How rude!!!
Why do you have to label him crazy? Just because YOU wouldn't want to do it. so far I've seen nothing crazy about Jim Bell.
Jim is not crazy. I am his former wife. He is one of the most generous spirited and serving individuals one could ever meet.
I was a recipient of this. Three years ago I was dying from Double Pneumonia and Sustemic Blood Poisoning, Jim made a promise to God he would do whatever it took to assist me, should I be able to live. He did just that. I was in a coma, family gathered at my bedside to say good-bye. Through the grace of The Lord, church members and Jim I am through the worst. He served tirelessly taking me three times a day to appointments, therapies etc.
He also shoveled snow for those in need for three years in a row and Cleaned impeccably the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints interior areas and exterior whether anyone showed up to assist or not.
He is fulfilling a dream he has been working towards for years. I watched him swim preparing in a olympic pool these last three years swimming at least five times a week.
I suggest he had to see he still has it it him and can fulfill his passions no matter what the age.
Too often people buy into a false belief about age. My 98 year old grandma used to say "You're as old as ya' feeel." She was right. Jim is especially young at heart. May his be a message about passion in living!
Ol' Woman in the Sea
Thanks for the post. We got a call late Saturday night that Jim hadn't made it this time, but all the while I just kept thinking, "Well, we'll see...." I'm glad he did it!
Sorry to offend you...but I still think he is crazy! I have told him so several times. I have never understood people who risk their lives for such things--whatever 'mountain' they choose to risk their lives by climbing.
Jim has the option of swimming safely--with a boat following him. He chooses not to do so. People choose to climb cliffs without safety ropes...their choice, of course, but I don't have to believe it is a sane one!
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