Author Topic: Hey Ft. Worthians (Read 230 times)

Nash · « **on:** June 19, 2004, 08:15:43 PM »

I just came across this story...

By ANGELA K. BROWN
The Associated Press
6/17/2004, 7:41 a.m. ET

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — An 8-year-old girl drowned and three people, including her father and brother, died while trying to rescue her from a decorative pool where "No swimming" signs were posted.

Witness accounts varied on what happened. Apparently, Lauren Dukes jumped or slipped into the water and the 11-year-old girl fell in when she tried to reach in and help her. Lauren's father and brother then jumped in to try to save the girls.

A pump at the bottom of the pool that pulls water to a waterfall apparently created a suction that made rescues difficult, Fire Department spokesman Lt. Kent Worley said.

So my first thought is kind of along the lines of.... what a dumbarse this dad is to bring his kids here to swim. And he was, but that's kind of beside the point.... because in looking up what this pool actually is, I found this:

HOLY DEATHTRAP BATMAN!

Look close and you'll see a person towards the middle. It gives you a good sense of scale. Then get a load of the steps he/she's on! WTF kind of staircase is that? Over 2 stories high at one point, crooked as hell, and no railing. But make sure you don't run down them, because you'll have about 3 feet to stop before going over the edge and getting sucked under water by these huge pumps.

So to those who've seen this for real - is it as foul as it appears in this picture?

These aren't white yard-buckets. I reckon Ft. Worth has a huge lawsuit in store for itself.

Fishu · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2004, 08:20:17 PM »

wow.. that place looks real dangerous

I'd be scared to be anywhere aside that
Those steps looks to be also angled downwards... I wonder how slick those gets with the water flow

NUKE · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2004, 08:26:01 PM »

holy cow, I don't even see rails along the top....looks like you could walk right onto one of those watery slopes and fall all the way down.

What are they thinking? That is pretty stoopid.

It does look cool though.

Lizking · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2004, 09:44:46 PM »

I guess they were thinking that the millions of people who have visited and enjoyed the Art over the last thirty years were not stupid. A silly assumption, going by your responses so far.

NUKE · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2004, 09:47:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lizking
I guess they were thinking that the millions of people who have visited and enjoyed the Art over the last thirty years were not stupid. A silly assumption, going by your responses so far.

That has been there 30 years?

Nash · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2004, 09:54:18 PM »

Maybe that picture is misleading...

Are those stairs supposed to be "Art" or are they actually intended to be functional?

jigsaw · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:30:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by NUKE
That has been there 30 years?

At least 30. They filmed parts of the end of Logan's Run here.

Parts of the stone are gripped for traction to walk down. They're hard to make out, but make a diagonal line on the far side of the picture.

Lizking · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:33:06 PM »

They are functional. You are aware of the danger when you are in the fountain, that is probably why it is so safe. This gentlemen, on the other hand, took his children to the fountain to swim, in spite of the obvious danger and signs warning against swimming. A terrible tragedy, but do not blame it on the facility.

A road is dangerous if you try and swim in it.

Nash · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:42:52 PM »

The story goes... The pool at his hotel was closed, so he took his family to this "fountain". No biggie there - every city has a street-type fountain to frolic around in.

So upon arriving there, all dressed up in bathing suits and water wings, they see this behemoth.

It could easily be a case of "Holy watermelon - we obviously can't swim in THIS thing". But one of the girl falls off the artful 2-3 story ledge and gets sucked under. Etc.

Jury is still out.

But upon looking at this pic, only a COMPLETE tard would come up to this thing and allow his daughter to actually jump in.

Lizking · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:49:25 PM »

It could always happen that someone would fall in and be killed. That does not make the fountain any more dangerous than the street they crossed to get to the fountain, it just makes it an accident. There are other fountains in the same park that are safe, though none are for swimming.

WilldCrd · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2004, 12:15:47 AM »

Been there several times you can walk on the stairs and stuff but everyone there "knows" its mainly artwork. and be really careful in some spots. It's definatly NOT a swimming pool to drop the kiddies off at.....unless you want to get rid of em.

Sandman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2004, 12:19:12 AM »

So... this fountain was obviously a bit deeper than their gene pool?

rpm · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2004, 12:32:00 AM »

The Ft.Worth Water Garden has been around as long as I can remember and this is the 1st time I heard of someone drowning there. It is a tragedy that it happened, but I don't see the need to change the design. If that is the case they will need to erect a fence along the Trinity River to keep people from falling in or warnings not to eat the dirt at the Botanical Gardens.