Brian Wiggins saved Narinder, Harpreet, and Sukphal Virk from drowning, Oxnard, California, January 12, 2000. At night, Ms. Virk, 39, and her daughter Harpreet, 6, and son Sukphal, 9, floated in a waterway of Channel Islands Harbor, off the Pacific Ocean. Asleep in his home along the waterway at the scene, Wiggins, 40, corporate sales representative, was awakened by a faint cry. After responding to a floating dock in the waterway to investigate, Wiggins saw a figure in the water about 30 feet out. Although it was dark and the water temperature was in the 50s, Wiggins dived into the waterway and swam out to the person, who was Ms. Virk. He grasped her and swam back to a dock with her, then removed her to the surface of the dock. Realizing then that two children were in the water, at points somewhat farther out, Wiggins re-entered the waterway and swam to Harpreet, who was floating face down and was unconscious. Wiggins took Harpreet to the dock in similar fashion and pulled her atop it, then resuscitated her. Wiggins entered the water a third time and swam to Sukphal. He returned with Sukphal to the dock and lifted him atop it. Rescue personnel arrived shortly. Ms. Virk and the children were taken to the hospital, where Harpreet was detained for treatment. They recovered. Wiggins sustained scratches and a bruise, from which he recovered.
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