Alexander J. Whitney saved a boy from drowning, Grand Haven, Michigan, August 3, 2009. A 16-year-old boy was in wadable water near shore at a Lake Michigan beach when he was pulled farther out by a very strong current. He clung to a buoy about 120 feet from shore, buffeted by high waves. Alexander, 17, high school student, was in another party on the beach in that vicinity. He took a life ring from the beach and waded and swam toward the boy as others on the beach held a line that was attached to the ring. As the line was not long enough, they had to release it as Alexander continued out. Alexander reached the boy, gave him the ring, and then attempted to swim with him against the current toward shore. Instead, they were carried about 100 feet farther out. Towing the boy, Alexander swam parallel with the beach to get out of the current. He then towed him toward shore and reached wadable water, where others aided the boy from the lake. Alexander was tired and had taken in water, and he and the boy were checked by paramedics at the scene. They recovered.
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