Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

[Brandwin]

A grieving father told an Australian inquest Tuesday how he was forced to make a "life and death" decision over which of his children to save when a family canoe trip turned to tragedy.

Television presenter Ian Clayton's nine-year-old daughter Billie died after their canoe capsized during a 2006 trip, throwing them into fast-flowing water, along with Billie's twin brother Edward.

Clayton, 48, spoke through tears as he described how he had been told by his son to save Billie first. He desperately tried to lift the canoe clear but couldn't see Billie and was only able to grab on to Edward.

Buoyed by their lifejackets, Clayton and his son were carried away by the strong current of the River Wye in Powys, Wales.

“When I got to Edward he said, 'Save my sister first,’” Clayton said. “It's hard to understand what was going through that little lad's mind.”

Clayton went on to explain the agonizing decision he was forced to make.

“It was a challenge for me,” he said. “What twin to go for? Sometimes I dream that I saved Billie instead. I will never know if I made the right decision.”


Click here to read more on this story from News.com.au.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368383,00.html

[Beantown]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

Damn.

[Kodii Rockets]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

man that sucks!!!! Hope Edward does'nt turn out to be one of those loser aspiring musicians

[SPTO]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

man that sucks!!!! Hope Edward does'nt turn out to be one of those loser aspiring musicians

Wha?

Anyways I can't imagine the pain that Ian Clayton must go through every day for the rest of his life. It's almost enough to drive someone insane.

[Brandon13]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

If I was that parent I don't think I could ever recover. I just can't imagine it.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

"I will never know if I made the right decision.”

What the Hell? That comment didn't sound right to me.. what was the alternative? He couldn't see the other twin.. so obviously you save the one you can see.

[Beantown]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

"I will never know if I made the right decision.”

What the Hell? That comment didn't sound right to me.. what was the alternative? He couldn't see the other twin.. so obviously you save the one you can see.

There will always be that doubt, though, that will keep him from ever knowing if he made the right choice. Of course, you and I looking in can say that he made the right choice because he was able to save one of his kids, but he will never be able to say that.

And I have to say, the father isn't the only one who will never shed this. The son could potentially always feel guilty that his father saved him and not his sister. At least, I know I would.

[Chaos81]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

That comment didn't sound right to me.

Would you be thinking right after that just happened to you?

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

No I wouldn't have said that. That comment implies that he made the wrong decision in saving his son. He said he couldn't even see Billie, therefore there wasn't really a chance to save her anyway.

[Beantown]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

Would you be thinking right after that just happened to you?

The event happened in 2006, the father just spoke out about it on Tuesday, so it was 2 years after this had happened when he said that.

Still doesn't change the fact that I see nothing wrong with the father's comment (as I posted above).

[Brandon13]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

No I wouldn't have said that. That comment implies that he made the wrong decision in saving his son. He said he couldn't even see Billie, therefore there wasn't really a chance to save her anyway.

I know what you're saying, but I know what the father is saying also. You just never know, maybe, somehow if he had done something different maybe he could have saved both of them.

It's got to be hell.

[Beantown]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

No I wouldn't have said that. That comment implies that he made the wrong decision in saving his son. He said he couldn't even see Billie, therefore there wasn't really a chance to save her anyway.

But how will he ever know if he could have saved her, or not? That's the entire point. He couldn't see her, no, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have found her if he searched for a minute or so, fighting the water.

Just because we can look at it and say the father made the right decision, which he did, by saving his son does not mean the father will ever not have that "what if" in his mind.

Also, just want to add, I understand completely what you are saying and where you are coming from. But that doubt, despite having his son alive with him, will never be gone.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

Yeah, I really couldn't imagine being him. I'm not judging him, I was merely mentioning the comment came off a little odd to me. Like, "well if I was his son, I'd feel sorta weird".

Anyway, I understand his second guessing and everything, I just think the way he worded it was not the best.

[Chaos81]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

The event happened in 2006, the father just spoke out about it on Tuesday, so it was 2 years after this had happened when he said that.

I'll rephrase it.

Would you ever be thinking clearly? I know I wouldn't if I had to make a choice like that.


EDIT: And yes, I realize he wasn't judging him.

[Beantown]

Re: Father Forced to Make Agonizing Choice of Which Twin to Save When Canoe Capsizes

I'll rephrase it.

Would you ever be thinking clearly? I know I wouldn't if I had to make a choice like that.


EDIT: And yes, I realize he wasn't judging him.

I know I wouldn't, from both the father and the son's perspective. As the father, I would always have doubts that I could've done more. As the son, I would always feel guilty that my father saved me and not my sister.