Clayton M. Cutter died attempting to help save four persons from drowning, Mammoth Lakes, California, February 19, 1990. Three teen-aged boys, on an outing with 13 others from a private camp, floundered in the 34-degree water of Convict Lake, Inyo National Forest, after breaking through the ice about 675 feet from the bank. Attempting to rescue them, one of their counselors also broke through the ice. Alerted from his home nearby, Cutter, 31, forestry technician, moved out onto the ice, with a length of rope, as did another of the boys’ counselors. At the edge of the open water, Cutter worked to pull the victims back onto the ice and was doing so upon the arrival of the fire department and other rescue personnel, who had responded to the scene with ropes, ladders, and a small boat that had been secured nearby. During the ensuing rescue activity, Cutter and two of the firemen broke through the ice, joining the other counselor, who had also entered the open water. The three boys, the two counselors, one of the firemen, and Cutter all drowned.
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