David F. Viancourt

David F. Viancourt helped to save Denzil R. Moss and helped attempt to save Nancy J. Moss from drowning and burning, Cleveland, Ohio, May 9, 1993. Moss, 24; his mother, 51, and other relatives were aboard a cabin cruiser docked at a restaurant on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River. An explosion in the boat threw them into the water. Viancourt, 30, off-duty firefighter, and two of his brothers were nearby on the dock and witnessed the explosion. They ran to the boat, which had started to burn. After Viancourt spotted an infant among the debris in the boat, he grasped a line and pulled the boat toward the dock while one of his brothers boarded the vessel and recovered the infant. Flames grew on the boat, producing dense black smoke, and spread to the dock, restaurant, and a fuel slick on the water in the vicinity. After Moses was seen in the water at the rear of the burning boat, Viancourt and his brothers entered the river for him. They secured him with a boathook, then took him to a state patrol boat that had arrived, aided by one of the officers from the boat. Mrs. Moss was then seen floating near the burning boat. Viancourt, his brothers, and the officer swam toward her but were repulsed by the flames. They returned to the patrol boat, where they helped to fight the fire. Viancourt and one of his brothers re-entered the water, retrieved Mrs. Moss, and took her back to the patrol boat. She could not be revived. Moss was hospitalized but died several days later. The infant was hospitalized, and he recovered. Viancourt was treated at a hospital emergency room for minor injuries, and he recovered.