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Hello my name is DeNell Hendricks I lived in Eldon all my life I went to school there my son attended school, one granddaughter is a freshman at the high school I work at Village Marina for 6 years before going to work at Lloyd Belt in the service department for about 15 years before he closed his new car dealership so many of you will know me. I’m needing financially help on August 11, 2023 my two granddaughters Brooklyn and Andie and I went to Destin, Florida to go shopping and decided to jet skiing at the same time the fun and excitement turned out to be a living nightmare, that changed our lives forever I want to educate of the danger of a BLUE LIFE JACKET something as simple as change the colors (Color Matters) to a Orange, Red, Yellow or Neon Green can assist with the finding of a person missing. Is the BLUE Life Jacket cheaper to make? I intend on find this answer out. I rented two JetSki’s that day. Andie, the youngest granddaughter, was not old enough to drive, she had to ride with grandma Brooklyn had her own Jet Ski. With the Lake in our back yard I had plenty of time ride on the water with friends. I had also rode in the Ocean so I wasn’t concerned.
This is wear thing changed inside the jettie the water was choppy but not bad. Andie is the daredevil Brooklyn is conservative with all the JetSki’s speeding past us going out into the Gulf Andie wanted to go out so the 2 of us headed out condition deteriorated so severe that it actually scared me. All I can do is hang onto the handlebars so tight that the grippers on the handlebars imbedded into the palm of my hands. I told Andie to hang on we had to got back into the jetty. I felt her arms wrapped around my waist for dear life. After getting back to the jetty I came down off plane and let off the throttle this was a huge mistake on my part, as soon as I was just idle floating a huge wave came and knocked us off the Jet Ski. After resurfacing I didn’t see her was looking for her around me but no Andie I finally seen her away off she was struggling to swim to me. I hollered and told her to swim on her back, not her stomach. She was able to get back to me. She asked me if she could go get on the JetSki and bring it to me. I told her yes another mistake I made I had the kill switch on my Lifejacket. She was not able to start the JetSki then I seen another huge wave knock her off the JetSki again. I never seen her after that don’t know what happened to her, but I also did not see Brooklyn. She had been close to us after we came back in this is when the nightmare began. I was the one that had been pulled out to the Gulf of Mexico. For awhile I could see the island, building and the rocks I tried to swim back by floating on my back I never was able to get back in the jetty. It was almost 4 hours before I would see the girls and know they was ok. Brooklyn was never able to get close to Andie she told her that she had to go get help. This was the hardest thing she has ever done in her life. Knowing she was leaving her little sister alone in the Ocean. If she had not done this I may have never been found. The Jet Ski company said they would not have looked for us until closing because people get out there having fun and lose track of time. The company has changed their policy on this since this happened. When Brooklyn got to the dock she was crying for making the choice to leave Andie. They went to the locate that Brooklyn had showed them to come back into the dock and blurt out their all gone even the JetSki is gone. Brooklyn was beyond consoling. She lost everything in just moments her little sister and her grandma. There by her self no 19 year old she have to face this. Should she call her dad 16 hours away and tell him Or should she call grandpa 2 hours away instead she called no one
When 911 was called this set the aqua Alart into motion over 200 people responded to be brief and started searching for both Andie and I. It’s also dispatch to helicopters those emergency and scenic tour helicopters. Coast Guard said Andie was in the water approximately 30 minutes before she was found I am passing dolphin cruise boat. I did take Brooklyn back out to the location to make sure they were searching in the right place. She physically got sick the way everyone was driving at top speeds and she was scared to death time that someone would run over the top of the Andie or me, and either hurt us severely or kill us. It was well over an hour before Brooklyn new Andie have been rescued and have been talking to them Coast Guard station. before entering the Coast Guard station she asked what are the chances my grandma will be found alive they gave me a 99.99% death and the chance my body would never be recovered. This is a lot for a 19-year-old to face by her self that‘s when they made the decision to call Frank, you can imagine the shock he received not having any idea we were jet skiing. The girls set together for another three hours, Waiting for some type of word. This is where my story starts you see I believe in Jesus I prayed so hard I didn’t think he was hearing me I thought I was gonna die and I didn’t know how my 80-year-old mother would be told that I died from a stupid accident that could have been avoided. The girls was 2 hours away from Gulf Shores, Alabama, where we were staying. It was starting to get late and I was beginning to give up well actually I had gave up. I thought I’ve been in the water too long I have no clue where I’m at the sun is going down so it’s just a matter of time until the search is called off that day I see multiple helicopters fly over they get right up on me I think oh my gosh they see me I’ve been found for them to turn and fly away that’s when I realized I couldn’t be see in the water I BLEND in. We all 3 was gave a BLUE life jacket not realizing the danger that layed ahead. There was multiple factors that played a role for my life being saved.
1st Brooklyn returning to get help
2 all the people that searched that day
3 Jesus
4 myself
5 prayers from the outsiders
The reason I know that the man upstairs was looking out for me. I had multiple jelly fish stings the first one I had no clue what was happening I just had sever pain and burning on my legs after multiple stings I new what was coming next thank God my body could handle all the stings . I was able to see multiple jelly fish swim or float by me one was a beautiful purple pink. If one brushed against me I wouldn’t move because I was petrified of being stung again they are slimy feeling. Secondly, I think the Lord he was there with me this point I felt something tapped me on the behind side scaring me I froze. I realized there was something above my head and extended past my feet. I’m petrified to death and ask the Jesus please don’t show me what this is if it’s Jaws from the movie, please eat me in one bite don’t make me suffer, that was how my mind started working. But to my relief whatever it was, it cradled my body for 15-20 seconds then it was gone. I never did see it. Then Jesus held my hand and help me find the surface of the Ocean. Coast Guard told me a few hours after I was flown to the hospital they came and seen about me what a group of wonderful men and women. They said the waves was 8-10 feet high. I had no business out in them conditions. My wonderful $10.00 watch just the fashion kind.
You see from all the swimming I did I couldn’t move at all so when I saw the last helicopter coming toward me I know I had to get my arm up and out of the water in hopes the sun would hit my watch band and sparkle. Jesus is the one that raised my arm for me, and yes it worked I was seen by my watch and the sun. I still have the same watch and still wear it and keeps time perfect. This is one thing I will never part with. But you see when they was pulling me into the boat by watch came off and landed in the bottom of the Coast Guard’s boat. They brought this to the hospital.
The waves I call the BEAST I was afraid of drowning because of them. I would be underwater to resurface and be took right back down no time to get a breath, my nose and throat burned so bad I did get sick and threw up, all the water that I was ingesting I was afraid of the water in my Lu gs at times I felt like I had a hand on my swimming suit bring me back to the surface.
There is a picture of 4 boats in a circle they know I’m in this circle and with the helicopter guiding them they still can’t find me because of the BEAST
Don’t let the moves fool you that day there was no swimmers jump out of the helicopter no basket that was lowered down to me. Just a dedicated Florida Fish And Wildlife agent and never left me I was told that one helicopter had found me early in the rescue to loose me due to all the waves.
The danger is the blue life jacket can not be seen in the water no matter if it’s the Ocean or Lake of the Ozarks or pond. I have pictures to support this statement.So this is an all water type of issue.
Don’t let this happen to your family!
We have been asked to speak at the International Boating Safety Conference in April in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In May invited to speak at the Life Jacket Association Conference in Clearwater, FL
November The United States LiveSaving Association Conformance.
I did a radio interview with Bob Mays from KRMS in Osage Beach,Mo
This will air February 17 from 10:05-11:00am
Bobsnowakezone station call code 93.5 or it can be streamed
February 20,2024 meeting with the Lake Boating Association and Congresswomen to get me to Capital Hill.So with all the traveling and hotel expenses is the reason I need financial help.
If you have any questions please call me so we can talking it through
Thank you for your help
DeNell