Underhill’s Ben Haller died in the Bahamas in 2014 from a so-called shallow water blackout. An emergency occurs when your brain lacks oxygen due to activities such as repetitive breath-holds. Essentially, a blackout in shallow water causes someone to faint underwater, where they can then drown. Haller, often referred to as “Benjo”, was spearfishing during his blackout. According to his family, he was alone when he did this exercise, which involved repetitive breath-holding. Now his family has a foundation called Live Like Benjo. The organization was in Colchester on Wednesday explaining to children what can cause blackouts in shallow water. The foundation urged children not to play breath-holding games, never ignore the urge to breathe, and always swim with other people who can watch over you. “Rescue is so necessary — that it must be immediate if there is a power outage in shallow water,” explained Dani Haller Bedford, Ben’s sister, reinforcing the call not to swim alone. “Because the oxygen levels in your body are already very low, so unless you get CPR or oxygen immediately, the chances of survival are very low.” youth. Ben Haller has worked as an instructor at the International Sailing School and Club at Mullets Bay, which this week is accepting children from the Boys and Girls Club with support from the foundation. Robin Doyle, president of the sailing school, said it was a pleasure to have members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club at the center, both for fun and important safety lessons. “We missed two years due to COVID,” Doyle said. “But we are very excited about their return. It’s their third day and they’ve been coming all week, Monday through Friday, and it’s just great to get them out into Mullets Bay and live like Benjo because that’s exactly what Benjo did.” National Group Shallow Water Blackout Prevention’s website says this problem can affect anyone in any body of water – even very experienced, physically fit swimmers. The organization writes that the biggest risk factor is competitive breath-holding sessions with little rest in between. In a 2015 NECN report, the Vermont Department of Health said it wants awareness to grow about the dangers of power outages in shallow water.
Underhill’s Ben Haller died in the Bahamas in 2014 from a so-called shallow water blackout. An emergency occurs when your brain lacks oxygen due to activities such as repetitive breath-holds.
Essentially, a blackout in shallow water causes someone to faint underwater, where they can then drown.
Haller, often referred to as “Benjo”, spearfished during his blackout. According to his family, he was alone when he did that exercise, which involved holding his breath multiple times.
His family now has a foundation called Live Like Benjo. The organization was in Colchester on Wednesday explaining to children what can cause power outages in shallow water.
The foundation urged children not to play breath-holding games, never ignore the urge to breathe, and always swim with other people who can watch over you.
“Rescue is so necessary — that it must be immediate if there is a power outage in shallow water,” explained Dani Haller Bedford, Ben’s sister, reinforcing the call not to swim alone. “Because the oxygen levels in your body are already very low, so if you don’t get CPR or oxygen right away, the chances of survival are very low.”
Money raised from the Live Like Benjo Foundation funds sailing lessons and other opportunities for Vermont’s youth.
Ben Haller has worked as an instructor at the International Sailing School and Club at Mullets Bay, which this week is accepting children from the Boys and Girls Club with support from the foundation.
Robin Doyle, president of the sailing school, said it was a pleasure to have members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club at the center for both fun and important safety lessons.
“We missed two years due to COVID,” Doyle said. “But we are very excited about their return. It’s their third day and they’ve been coming all week, Monday through Friday, and it’s just great to get them out into Mullets Bay and live like Benjo because that’s exactly what Benjo did.”
The National Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Group says on its website that anyone in any body of water can be affected by the problem — even very experienced, physically fit swimmers.
The organization writes that the biggest risk factor is competitive breath holding sessions with little rest in between.
In a 2015 NECN report, the Vermont Department of Health said it wanted increased awareness of the dangers of a shallow water blackout.