Clarence M. Brooks, Jr., helped to save David D. Baker from drowning, Highland Village, Texas, March 2, 2012. Attempting to swim after his boat, which had slipped its mooring at a dock along the bank of Lewisville Lake, Baker, 55, lost consciousness and floated face down at a point about 150 feet from the bank. Brooks, 44, business operator, had just removed his boat from the lake on a ramp at the scene and was alerted to the situation. Taking a flotation device from his boat with him but not removing any of his attire, Brooks entered the 53-degree water and swam out to Baker, who also was fully clothed. He turned Baker onto his back, grasped him around the neck, and, still holding to the flotation device, started to kick back to the bank. Weighed down by his attire, including boots, Brooks found the going slow, and he tired. Park rangers on a boat that was nearby responded to the men and towed them the remaining distance to the bank. Brooks and others pulled Baker to the ramp and resuscitated him, and he was then taken to the hospital for treatment of having nearly drowned. He recovered. Brooks was cold and nearly exhausted after the rescue, and he too recovered.
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84787-9616