Deep Water (Revision Lesson)

William Douglas had great passion for water. 

He longed to learn swimming. 

When he was three or four years, he was taken to a Beach in California by his father. 

While surfing on the shore, a huge wave knocked him. He feared water. That was his childhood fear. 

After some years he longed to swim in the Yakima River but his 

mother warned against that idea because the Yakima River is treacherous.

Then he found the YMCA Pool the safest place for swimming. Its 

deepest end was nine feet deep, the bottom was tiled, the drop 

towards the deep part was gradual, water was clean and there were other children swimming. 

He went to the pool and started swimming by imitating other boys. 

One day, while waiting for the other boys to come, a big boy threw 

him into the deepest end of the water.

Douglas had the courage to face the situation. He went down and 

down with a hope to reach the bottom to make a big leap upward.

Three times he went down and on the third time, he lost consciousness and almost died! 

Douglas gives a vivid description of death which is peaceful.

Douglas’ ‘body’ floated on the surface. Someone dragged him out of the water and provided first aid. 

After this incident, Douglas tried to avoid water and water sports as much as possible.

When he grew up, water began to tempt him again.

He got a trainer and learnt swimming. 

After the completion of the training, he went to various rivers, pools, lakes and swam alone and got rid of his fear.