Brookner West Brady, Jr., 15, schoolboy, assisted in an attempt to rescue A. Barry L. Wilson, 17, schoolboy, from a shark attack and drowning, Pacific Grove, California, December 7, 1952. While Barry was swimming in deep water in Monterey Bay near a steep rocky promontory, he was attacked by a 12-foot shark that seized his legs and pulled him near the surface. He rose bleeding profusely from severe wounds of the legs and began screaming for help, attracting Brookner, who was swimming 40 feet from him. Brookner upon approaching Barry saw that the water was discolored by blood and was warned by Barry that the shark still was nearby. As he obtained a hold on Barry, Brookner felt turbulence in the water and observed the shark moving beneath them as if to resume its attack. Brookner feared to try to land with Barry in the heavy surf at the base of the promontory. Kicking his feet as hard as he could to discourage further attacks by the shark, Brookner swam towing Barry through swells three to six feet high toward an adjoining cove. After progessing 45 feet, Brookner noticed that Barry had become unconscious and that his head had submerged. Ceasing to swim, Brookner drew Barry’s head above the surface and trod water supporting him. Swimming in a group 300 feet away, John L. Poskus, Roy Franklin Ambrosio, and two men who were members of the military reached Brookner and relieved him of Barry. Brookner, who had been alone with Barry for seven minutes, told the others that Barry had been attacked by a shark. The men had with them a 100-foot rope attached to an inflated automobile tire tube. Placing the tube over Barry’s head, the men drew the tube downward to his waist. They felt Barry’s body jerk abruptly and sighted the shark as it passed beneath their legs. All saw that Barry again had been attacked and that his legs were badly torn and mangled. Poskus swam ahead of the group and pulled the rope taut as Ambrosio and the other men obtained holds on the tire tube and pushed it toward the cove. Unable to be of further assistance, Brookner swam to the base of the promontory, where he gained footing on a jagged reef and climbed from the water. As they entered the cove with Barry, Ambrosio and the servicemen again sighted the shark, which passed by them at a depth of several feet and headed in the direction of Poskus but did not reappear. Poskus, Ambrosio, and the others repeatedly were buffeted by the swells but slowly progressed 1,000 feet towing Barry and reached a pier. Climbing out of the water, the men carried Barry to shore. Barry was pronounced dead by a physician. Brookner was tired but recovered. 3847-42721
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