Brett Allen Thoele helped to save a man from drowning, Branson, Missouri, June 28, 2013. An unidentified man was swimming in the designated swimming area off a beach at Table Rock Lake when he began to struggle and yell for help at a point about 220 feet from the bank. Water there was about 20 feet deep. He drew the attention of other swimmers, including Thoele, 36, off-duty police officer, who was standing in wadable water near the bank. Thoele swam to the victim, as did a second man, but the victim lunged at the other man and submerged him, after which he swam away. When Thoele approached the victim, the victim lunged at him also and submerged him. Thoele surfaced, but the victim continued to struggle and submerged him twice more. Surfacing, Thoele struck the victim to subdue him. The victim then cooperative, Thoele towed him toward the bank. They were met by the other man, who was returning with an inflatable paddle board. The victim lay on the board as Thoele and the other man took him to the bank. The victim lay there exhausted. Thoele had ingested water and was extremely fatigued but recovered that day.
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