24 October 2011

Body in the lake

23 October 2011 | johnboy

ACT Policing’s Water Operations this morning (Sunday, October 23) recovered the body of a man from Lake Burley Griffin near the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.

A post mortem will be conducted although at this time, there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man’s death. A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

Our information is the deceased had been drinking heavily at ANU’s Octoberfest before going for an ill advised swim.

UPDATE: The Canberra Times are saying it was one William Boyle who appears to have been a very popular guy.

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LSWCHP7:26 pm 26 Oct 11

creative_canberran said :

LSWCHP said :

A colleague pointed me at an article in the Oct 2011 National Geographic called “The New Science of the Teenage Brain”. I’ve only had the chance to skim it so far, but the essence of the story seems to be that human brains don’t finish maturing until about age 25, and until then, people will behave in ways that are incomprehensible to older people, including engaging in very risky activities that are potentially fatal.

While these risky activities occasionally result in harm, up to and including death, they are actually a consequence of positive evolutionary adaptation. In other words, what seems crazy to us old folks is generally beneficial to the human race as a whole. Unfortunately, the positive aspects of the risk taking are occasionally offset by tragedies such as this.

If this is correct (and it seems reasonable to me) then all the well meaning attempts to make the world as safe as possible are pointless. Sometimes things will just go sadly awry as they have here.

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of this unfortunate young man.

It’s widely known and accepted the brain doesn’t finish developing until mid to late teens.

The argument though that it’s a positive adaptation though is a croc if one is to try and apply to all circumstances. It simply can’t be. Some risks can pay dividends. Getting piss drunk then going for a swim in a lake offers no possible dividend.

I gather it’s mid twenties, not teens.

And of course evolution doesn’t apply in specific cases. It’s about the species as a whole (which I gather has just passed the 7 billion mark) not individuals. The idea is that in general, risky behaviour by youngsters results in necessary independence, physical and mental development and lots of other good things. Overall it’s a good thing. However, in specific cases, such as this one, things may not turn out well at all.

chewy1410:19 am 25 Oct 11

I-filed said :

Just sayin’: when the drunk who kills himself is found to be a middle-class student, the tone appears to change… while earlier instances of working-class drunks killing themselves through various stupidities get mass hilarity often topped off with a Mully nomination.

I’d think that would probably be because firstly this guy wasn’t going to hurt anybody else with what he was doing and secondly none of his friends have been committing crimes in his honour cause he was a “fully sick dude n stuff”.

TootToot8:24 am 25 Oct 11

I wouldn’t have thought swimming in the lake was a good idea even when sober

Deref7:41 am 25 Oct 11

creative_canberran said :

It’s widely known and accepted the brain doesn’t finish developing until mid to late twenties.

I fixed that for you.

canberracath11:46 pm 24 Oct 11

Merle said :

Padoof said :

Waiting For Godot said :

“No suspicious circumstances” again. Someone get the cops a dictionary so they can spell the word suicide properly in their press releases.

It is my understanding:
1. that there is an embargo on using the word ‘suicide’ in newspaper reports, and
2. ‘No suspicious circumstances’ is to infer that ‘foul play’ is not being considered; ie, the death is not a result of a murder, or that it is suicide.

Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this young man.

+1

It has been repeatedly observed that media reports on suicide are linked to a spike in suicides. The police aren’t about to encourage that by putting it in their media releases.

Also something can’t be reported as ‘suicide’ unless there is evidence to show that it was actually a suicide….

Bramina11:15 pm 24 Oct 11

harryhaller said :

Deref said :

Perhaps a campaign exposing young men (it seems to be men) to the agony that families and friends go through in these circumstances might be a deterrent.

Yeah, I’m sure this would work.

The problem is that young males are predisposed to take risks. Presenting them with facts does little solve that problem.

creative_canberran10:35 pm 24 Oct 11

LSWCHP said :

A colleague pointed me at an article in the Oct 2011 National Geographic called “The New Science of the Teenage Brain”. I’ve only had the chance to skim it so far, but the essence of the story seems to be that human brains don’t finish maturing until about age 25, and until then, people will behave in ways that are incomprehensible to older people, including engaging in very risky activities that are potentially fatal.

While these risky activities occasionally result in harm, up to and including death, they are actually a consequence of positive evolutionary adaptation. In other words, what seems crazy to us old folks is generally beneficial to the human race as a whole. Unfortunately, the positive aspects of the risk taking are occasionally offset by tragedies such as this.

If this is correct (and it seems reasonable to me) then all the well meaning attempts to make the world as safe as possible are pointless. Sometimes things will just go sadly awry as they have here.

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of this unfortunate young man.

It’s widely known and accepted the brain doesn’t finish developing until mid to late teens.

The argument though that it’s a positive adaptation though is a croc if one is to try and apply to all circumstances. It simply can’t be. Some risks can pay dividends. Getting piss drunk then going for a swim in a lake offers no possible dividend.

Violet6810:14 pm 24 Oct 11

I-filed said :

Just sayin’: when the drunk who kills himself is found to be a middle-class student, the tone appears to change… while earlier instances of working-class drunks killing themselves through various stupidities get mass hilarity often topped off with a Mully nomination.

+100

I-filed10:00 pm 24 Oct 11

Just sayin’: when the drunk who kills himself is found to be a middle-class student, the tone appears to change… while earlier instances of working-class drunks killing themselves through various stupidities get mass hilarity often topped off with a Mully nomination.

LSWCHP9:02 pm 24 Oct 11

A colleague pointed me at an article in the Oct 2011 National Geographic called “The New Science of the Teenage Brain”. I’ve only had the chance to skim it so far, but the essence of the story seems to be that human brains don’t finish maturing until about age 25, and until then, people will behave in ways that are incomprehensible to older people, including engaging in very risky activities that are potentially fatal.

While these risky activities occasionally result in harm, up to and including death, they are actually a consequence of positive evolutionary adaptation. In other words, what seems crazy to us old folks is generally beneficial to the human race as a whole. Unfortunately, the positive aspects of the risk taking are occasionally offset by tragedies such as this.

If this is correct (and it seems reasonable to me) then all the well meaning attempts to make the world as safe as possible are pointless. Sometimes things will just go sadly awry as they have here.

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of this unfortunate young man.

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