It is sad that these men lost their lives. Most fishermen know the dangers of cold water and prepare for it. But accidents still happen.
You really can't compare falling unexpectedly from a boat, fully clothed, with heavy boots and fishing gear with intentional exposure like water-skiing. We've all seen pictures of these polar bear clubs running into figid water in January. You can dunk yourself in cold water for a few seconds or minutes with relative safety, if you're prepared and have someone to back you up. With a wet-suit you can even tolerate more. White water kayakers often brave very cold spring rivers with wet-suits.
It's not just the water temp, it's the whole set of circumstances.
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