It started as a normal Saturday. Vidar Fløysand (61) and stepson Fredrik Storesund Øksnes (17) were to go for a swim in Skiftedalsvatnet on Sotra outside Bergen.
The water is relatively large, but Vidar has always seen himself as a skilled swimmer. When they had to swim the 100 meter long stretch out to some mountains, however, things went wrong.
It was Vestnytt who first told the story.
– When I had 10-15 meters left, it stopped. I was exhausted, and began to sink and swallow water. I got up, before I sank down again and swallowed even more water. Then everything turned black, and I do not remember anymore, says Vidar to TV 2.
Fredrik had just come ashore when he turned around and saw his stepfather digging in the water.
– Vidar and Fredrik are back at Skiftedalsvatnet where the incident happened last Saturday. It is about 100 meters across the strait. Photo: Mathias Kleiveland (Photo)
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“Let go, or keep fighting”
– I shouted and asked if it went well, but got no answer. Then I see that he goes underwater once, twice, and then he is gone, says Fredrik.
The 17-year-old threw himself into the water and swam all he could.
When Fredrik arrived at where he last saw his stepfather, the water was calm. He dived down, and spotted the light yellow swimming trunks Vidar was wearing. The 61-year-old had lost consciousness.
– I got a pain in the head and ears on the way down, and had to stop and blow out to equalize the pressure. Then I grabbed his throat, but I ran out of air. Then I thought I had to get up, says Fredrik.
At that very moment, the 17-year-old had to make a quick assessment – was he forced to give up, or should he continue to fight?
– Then I thought “nothing will happen today”. I got Vidar up, and took the biggest breath I could breathe. Then it was just to focus on getting ashore, he says.
– – I had both legs in the grave, says Vidar Fløysand when he thinks back on the swim. Photo: Mathias Kleiveland / TV 2.
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Chilled and tired
But the rescue operation was far from over. Vidar was unconscious and heavy. In addition, there was a strong wind and current in the water. The fact that both were refrigerated did not make the situation easier.
Fredrik had to step his stepfather the 10-15 meters ashore, but the rock wall was too steep for them to save themselves via it.
Vidar woke up alive, and spat out water he had swallowed. Fredrik asked him to hold on to the rock wall, while he himself scouted for help. 80 meters away he saw a raft-like object lying at the water’s edge.
– I jumped out again, swam to the raft, pulled it back to the rock wall and got Vidar up on the raft. Then we swam in the headwind all the way back to the pier, says Fredrik.
That stretch was between 80 and 100 meters. On land stood the girlfriend of Vidar, who is also his mother. She filmed the naval rescue, and thus immortalized the last part of the rescue operation.
– In this picture you can see how far Fredrik swam to get the raft, while Vidar clung to the rock wall to the left. The distance is between 70-80 meters. Photo: Mathias Kleiveland / TV 2.
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– A heroic feat
Back on land, both Fredrik and Vidar struggled to understand what they had just experienced, and how wrong it could have gone.
– It was extremely heavy. We had been in the water for 30-40 minutes, and the body was completely cooled, says Fredrik.
Vidar says he was completely shaken when he returned to land.
– What do you think about what your stepson did?
– I’m so proud of him. This is a heroic feat. It’s so big and I’m so grateful. I had both legs in the grave, says Vidar.
– This is what it looks like, the raft Fredrik used to save his stepfather. Only luck meant that this was at the water’s edge within reach, just this day. Photo: Mathias Kleiveland / TV 2.
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Sixes in swimming
Fredrik praises himself happily for the interest in swimming he has had throughout his life. At school, he has top marks in swimming, and has also completed rescue courses.
However, this incident was miles away from safe pool training.
– It has not fully dawned on me that I have saved a life, says Fredrik.
– Do you have any advice for others who are facing a similar situation?
– The most important thing is to stay calm, and think that if you stress then it can go wrong. Then the situation is turned upside down, and you can feel that you are not good enough to save a human being.
Vidar, for his part, is crystal clear that he has received a lesson for life, and that he will be more careful on future swims.
– This was an experience of a lifetime. I will not do this again, he says.
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