Pediatric surgeon dies trying to save two kids from Lake Michigan

[mucifer]

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Dr. Donald Liu died as he lived, saving children.

The pediatric surgeon was with his wife for a weekend getaway when he spotted two children struggling in Lake Michigan off a small beach in Berrien County Michigan Sunday morning. Liu was able to help the children but was pulled under the water and drowned, according to authorities and his friends.

"Dr. Liu drowned while successfully saving two children who got caught in heavy surf in Lake Michigan," said his friend and colleague, Dr. Jeffrey Matthews, chairman of surgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where Liu practiced.

More at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-pediatric-surgeon-dies-saving-two-children-from-drowning-in-lake-michigan-20120805,0,7520105.story

[yellerpup]

1. Tragic.

A good man gave his life to rescue two others. A true hero passes.

[Ikonoklast]

2. There are saints that have walked among us.

May peace find Dr. Donald Liu and all those that knew and loved him.

[AllyCat]

3. My son keeps asking if there are really superhereos.

Yes, there are. This one gave everything.

[frazzled]

4. Sad loss of a remarkable individual

The two children--and countless others over the course of his distinguished career--he saved are the sweet legacy he left behind in his final act of heroism. May his own bereaved children hold his memory in their hearts forever with pride and courage. So tragic.

As an aside: this really hit home for me because we'd just been in Michigan and had been discussing the potential dangers of Lake Michigan. My husband and a friend and I were on a private beach and as the two of them entered into the water I told them to be careful. There was no lifeguard on this part of the water, and the waves were very high that day. Both of them having grown up on the Atlantic seabord, they laughed at me and said, "what do you think this is? the ocean? like there are rip tides or something?" Fortunately, they were safe. But this is a sobering lesson: these waters can be dangerous. Treat them with the same respect you would an ocean.

[knitter4democracy]

5. Yes, there are rip tides and all kinds of currents that are unpredictable.

Lake Michigan has taken another from us too soon. Those of us who live here know to respect the lakes.

May his memory be eternal.

[catbyte]

8. Lake Michigan has AWFUL riptides. When I was in Maui, boat captains,

when I told them I was from Michigan, remarked, "The Great Lakes are more dangerous than the ocean." They should know. PLEASE tell your loved ones to be careful next time they swim in any of the Great Lakes. People are drowning at an alarming rate. I grew up between Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix and consider myself a strong swimmer, but when they say the riptides are bad, I stay out of Lake MI.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Taz, Nigel, and new baby brother Sammy, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage--HISS!”

[dmr]

17. Yes, and there are plenty of ships on the floor of Lake Michigan to prove it. n/t

[1gobluedem]

6. A friend of mine trained with Dr. Liu

She is devastated. He was a good man and a gifted surgeon.

And for those who pooh, pooh the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is known for dangerous riptides and there are many drownings every year. Often they're people who think a 'lake' can't be dangerous. I was at the beach in St. Joe two weeks ago and the waves were huge; red flags and riptide warnings were out all up and down the coast. Respect the lakes, they can kill you.

[LittleGirl]

11. Silver Beach is my favorite

And you're so right. The rip tides are awful on Lake Michigan. Someone dies every year. The last time I was there the water was like glass, smooth and non threatening. Someone said the up thread the lake is dirty. I disagree. The zebra muscles have cleared the water. When I was kid in the 70s, I wouldn't swim in that water. It was nasty then. Dead fish on the shore and it was so murky, you couldn't see the bottom.

[renate]

7. so sad...

It's a small comfort, but the only possible one to come from something like this, that the children lived. At least he didn't sacrifice his life in vain.

[gollygee]

9. We live near Lake Michigan

and people think I'm crazy for not letting my young kids swim in it. I hear way way way too many drowning stories, and I personally know people who have drowned in Lake Michigan. They can swim in small inland lakes.

(It's pretty dirty, too.)

Yes, Dr. Liu is a hero.

[mzmolly]

16. Not a place for anyone

to swim if it's anything like Superior.

RIP Dr. Liu.

[colorado_ufo]

10. God bless you and your loved ones, Dr. Liu.

I never heard of you until today, and I had never seen your face. If you could read this, I would tell you what a privilege it is to have done so.

Yes, there are saints, and one extraordinary man can make up for the disappointing lives and actions of so many others. In other words, knowing that there are people like Dr. Liu still gives us hope.

[geardaddy]

12. How sad.

Bless you Dr. Liu and your loved ones.

The Great Lakes are dangerous. It's the currents and temperature that are killers, especially in Superior.

[Beringia]

13. People should be educated on rip tides

Something I never learned about, and just read up on in a few minutes. To survive a rip tide, it will not pull you under, it will take you out. So you should go with the rip tide and try to swim to the left or right of it. People die when they try to swim against it to shore. The rip tides usually dies out before going too far out. All a rip tide is, is the water rushing back out after it has come in.

[kooljerk666]

14. I was always a good swimmer......

and at about 10 years of age I was caught in a riptide off the jersey coast.

It was pulling out not down & after i tired my self out trying to swim straight back I turned left (south) and swam kinda parallel to the shore working my way in slowly.

I got to where I could stand about 2 miles down shore. Then, it was about 1/2 hr walk up the beach b4 i found my parents.

I did not learn much & lived on the Delaware River & nearly drowned several more times. Now at 50, i stick with trout streams, cold, clean & no more than 15 ft from shore.

EDIT

wow, after watching that I am not sure what I was caught in, none of the described rips seem big enuff to fit what I was in........

end edit

[MichiganVote]

15. Was at the lake yesterday. It was very rough, beautiful, but rough.

When the lake is testy, don't swim folks and please, don't let your kids swim. The waves are fun. And the water was warm. Knew that someone would get in trouble.