Dale Arnold Hatch died attempting to save Steven L. Quattropani from drowning, Phippsburg, Maine, May 12, 1963. When he was washed off a rocky ledge into the Atlantic Ocean, Quattropani, 20, student, tried to swim back to shore but slowly was carried seaward by the action of waves four to six feet high. Others on shore quickly made a lifeline from articles of clothing. Hatch, 18, student, who was not a strong swimmer, took the line and descended to a ledge six feet above the water. He was fully clad, including leather boots. Hatch had to cling to the rocks as each wave struck, soaking him completely, but between waves he attempted several times without success to throw one end of the lifeline to Quattropani. A large wave swept Hatch off the ledge. Quattropani and Hatch, about 10 feet apart, were buffeted back and forth by the waves and could not make any headway toward shore. Daniel Elwood Stockwell ran 150 feet to a small beach almost directly opposite Quattropani and Hatch. Undressing to swimming trunks, Stockwell tied one end of a 50-foot rope around his waist. While others held the rope, Stockwell entered the cold water. He swam through the waves and reached Quattropani 35 feet from shore in deep water. Meanwhile Hatch had disappeared beneath the surface. Stockwell obtained a hold on Quattropani, who by then was unconscious, and towed him shoreward. Aided by the waves and the persons pulling on the rope, Stockwell avoided sharp rocks near shore and reached the beach with Quattropani, who revived and recovered. The body of Hatch later was washed ashore.
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