Darlene May Shire saved Paulo A. Barros from drowning, Calgary, Alberta, August 26, 1999. Barros, 18, was swimming in Lake McKenzie when he encountered difficulty staying afloat at a point about 70 feet from the beach. He flailed his arms and yelled for help, catching the attention of Ms. Shire, 37, day home operator, who was on the beach. Ms. Shire ran into the water and had waded out about 20 feet when she saw Barros submerge. She immediately swam to the point at which she had last seen Barros, then dived and found him lying unconscious on the bottom of the lake, in water 12 feet deep. Ms. Shire attempted to pull Barros up, but he was too heavy to move. She repositioned herself by planting her feet on the lake bottom and, crouching, gripped Barros by the arm and pulled. She released Barros from the bottom of the lake, then pushed off and surfaced with him. Ms. Shire swam Barros back to the beach, where, tired, she collapsed at the waterline. Another woman on the beach resuscitated Barros. He was then flown to the hospital, where he was detained overnight. Ms. Shire experienced a soreness about her face that lasted five days. She recovered.
73932 – 8391
73932-8391