On an unseasonably warm March day on the Mississippi between Minnesota and Wisconsin I went tubing and water skiing with some friends. They went skiing and wake boarding, with a wetsuit on. I went tubing with nothing but my trunks and a life jacket. The water was ice cold. I knew they were going to try and toss me so I dragged my knees in the water. They were numb in a minute. Eventually they got me off. As soon as I slipped into the water I experienced exactly what you did. I couldn't breathe or move. If I didn't have a life jacket on I'd have gone under before they ever turned the boat around. Life jackets save lives. Especially in cold water.