D. Roderick Boothe rescued Kelly A. Wood from drowning, St. Augustine Beach, May 23, 2020. Wood, 42, was in the Atlantic Ocean when she was carried away from shore by a rip current. Boothe, 50, compliance director, was in the water when he was told that Wood was in trouble. Boothe swam, with difficulty in the rough waves, out to Wood, who submerged when Boothe was a few feet away from her. Boothe dived under the water, grasped Wood, who was unconscious, and brought her to the surface. Boothe then grasped Wood and swam, towing her toward shore. When he was able to stand, Boothe picked up Wood and began to carry her toward the beach before others responded and took her from the water. Wood was not breathing, and efforts began to resuscitate her on the beach. Wood was taken by ambulance to the hospital; she recovered. Boothe was nearly exhausted after the rescue; he recovered.
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91134-10238