Christopher N. White helped to rescue Jamie M. Daigle from an attacking shark, Miramar Beach, Florida, June 25, 2005. Jamie, 14, was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico when a large shark attacked her, inflicting severe wounds. A man who was on his surfboard in the vicinity paddled to Jamie and placed her on the board, the shark remaining nearby. White, 23, environmental health specialist, was on the beach when he hard shouts for help. He entered the water and started out, en route being given an inflatable raft. White swam the raft to Jamie and the other man, then, with Jamie aboard the raft, started toward shore with it. The shark returned to them and swam in close proximity. From his surfboard, the other man hit the surface of the water to distract the shark, and it left the area. The men continued to shore with Jamie and removed her from the water with the help of others. Jamie could not be revived and died at the scene of her injuries. White was nearly exhausted after the rescue but shortly recovered.
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