Former basketball player Paulius Skomantas narrowly escapes tragedy: 'Thank you for being alive'

Former Lithuanian basketball player Paulius Skomantas recounted a harrowing experience where he nearly drowned, an incident he attributes to his own disregard for safety warnings.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING ALIVE. Today could have been the last day of my life – I could have drowned.

Skomantas, who was visiting the coast with a friend, admitted to entering the sea despite red flags indicating dangerous conditions due to strong winds and high waves. He and his friend ventured several kilometers from the main beach to a secluded spot, where he decided to swim.

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I must admit, I considered whether it was even worth publicizing this story, as I myself ignored the prohibitions and went into the sea at a time when red flags were raised on the beach. Nevertheless, the man decided to talk about his mistake, hoping that his experience would serve as a warning to others.

Initially intending to stay in shallow water, Skomantas was caught by a powerful rip current. He described being pulled out to sea at high speed, struggling to breathe as waves crashed over him. Recalling advice he had read, he stopped fighting the current and instead floated, conserving energy until the water became calmer and the current subsided.

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You are pulled out to sea at tremendous speed, you try to swim, but nothing changes. And new waves are crashing over your head, you can barely catch your breath.

After swimming sideways for about ten meters to avoid the current, he was able to swim back to shore. He expressed deep gratitude for being alive and apologized to his friend, who had been extremely worried. Skomantas emphasized that while he had often swum in rough seas in his youth, he now understood the critical importance of following rules and staying close to shore, even in calm waters.

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I realized that you really can't go into the sea when it's forbidden. You have to follow the rules. And even when the sea is calm, it's better to be close to the shore. That is masculinity.