An American tourist fought off panic when an Australian tour boat company accidentally left him stranded near the Great Barrier Reef in his snorkeling gear. Michigan 28-year-old Ian Cole says he grew frightened when he surfaced and realized the Passions of Paradise tour boat was gone last Saturday. Since American couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan disappeared after being left behind by a boat in nearby Port Douglas in the 1990s, tour companies have followed strict head count rules, the AFP reports. You can watch an Australian TV news report on the incident in the video above. "Panic kicks in, your heart rate goes up, and you don't know what's going to happen. I was sucking water back into my snorkel and was really trying hard to stay calm," Cole told the Sydney Morning Herald. Cole saw another tour boat and says he swam about 15 minutes to reach it. ''When I got to the other boat they looked down like 'what the hell are you doing here?' They said my boat had left 15 minutes ago. I thought they were joking.'' The staff member who failed to do an accurate headcount has been fired, the paper says, and Cole was given a $200 restaurant voucher and a refund for the trip.
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This is your first post....Comment -
he must be Ian Cole and wants his story heardComment -
Solid first post.
But fukk that being left on the reef for shark food. I bet some people would go back with their boyzzz and fukk all them sharks up for scaring them. Tough Being Tough.
Seriously, that's fukked up though. Every snorkel trip I've been on always count as soon as we get back in the boat. That's probably one of the worst places to be left at.Comment -
If I was going to go snorkeling in the reef I wouldn't go without a spear gun in case shit like this happens.Comment -
refund and $200 restaurant voucher?
I would just want ten minutes alone in the room with the tour guide 
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Not to mention safety had allegedly been tightened up since an American couple on their honeymoon where left behind and never found about 10 years ago..Comment -
They said my boat had left 15 minutes ago.
He is got him self a great deal $200 for 15 min been alone .
LOL Sounds like American version of Robinzon Kruso
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This is one of my biggest fears. Freaks me the fukk out.
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Not saying that the boat operator didn't f\*\*k up, but how do you not realize that you are alone and the boat is leaving? Seriously, how far away did he swim?Comment -
Dang! I can't imagine. I think I would laugh a little for about 5.879 seconds, then I would say fukkk.
Good first post broComment -
first post on a gambling forum and it's about snorkeling
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There is a reason the story said American tourist. If the tourist was Italian the headline would have been like this: "Italian tourist sinks Australian boat with captain in it after being left in the open ocean while snorkeling".Comment -
Every time I've done something touristy on a boat, it's just inevitable, you start talking to the people around you, and you end up having a good time with other people their on your tour. Well, I would certainly notice if the people weren't on the boat next to me when the boat was about to leave. *shrug*Comment -
unreal story good he made it backComment -
no kidding... i would own that boat company by now..
yeah seriously ? did he go alone on this trip ? no girl or anything? didn't make one friend on the trip? no buddy system ?Comment -
the biggest fear i guess would be dehydration right ? sharks would be a concern but less likely i suppose.Comment -
btw any of you degens ever see open water. good movie if not check it out.you get to see the woman topless in the beginning too.
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i would def have been scaredComment -
Op is leaving out the fact that another boat was within 10 minutes swim. Granted the one he hopped aboard of was the last of the day. Guy is making a mountain out of a molehill. Personally think the sharks shouldve found and devoured him 4 being such a bitch whinging little prick....Comment -
One of the most interesting first posts ever.
Quit while you're ahead.Comment -
yeah, that kind of shit trips me out. I would have sued big time. And whooped that guides ass. I would have fed his lifeless body to those damn sharks.Comment -
What the hell would he sue for? For giving him an awful fright?
An accident isn't an excuse to try and make a lottery win for yourself. In Australia you would be laughed out of court.
BTW, the victim was cool. He only asked for a written apology to start with, and when the company refused he just embarrassed them on TV..Comment -
hey let's look at just what he had to eat with that $200 on his last night in australia.
starting off with a appetizer. mmmmmmmm. must a been hungry swimming 2 miles to nearest boat.
nice side salad
main entree
and finally for dessert.
sushi.Comment -
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My two biggest fears are probably extreme heights and deep open ocean you will not catch me on a plane over the middle of the atlantic ocean seriously, imagine crashing down from like 30,000 feet in the air landing in the dead center of the ocean and surviving so now you have to worry about soo much sh*t on top of all that its pitch black and u have absolutely no idea whats around or under you for miles and miles and miles till a house-sized whale comes up and swallows you whole and you drown in its stomach acid
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The company was Australian, but the staff member was probably Canadian.Comment
