Dennis S. Shimomura, 18, schoolboy, helped to save Roland M. Taylor, fuel dealer, from drowning, Napili Beach, Hawaii, May 7, 1966. Taylor and his wife were swimming in surf in the Pacific Ocean when they were caught by a strong current and carried away from shore and toward a seawall of jagged rocks. They called for help. Shimomura obtained a 15-foot surfboard and, although inexperienced in handling it, entered the water. He reached the Taylors, each of whom outweighed him, 220 feet from shore in water 15 feet deep. Noting that the wife appeared able to take care of herself, Shimomura aided Taylor, who was nearly exhausted, onto the board. By then the current had carried them 30 feet farther from shore. Shimomura and the wife could make no headway in pushing the board. After mounting the surfboard behind Taylor, Shimomura was able to make progress by paddling. Taylor’s wife remained at the rear of the board and aided by pushing. By the time they had progressed to within 150 feet of the beach, Shimomura was tiring. His paddling had become weak, and the board again was carried seaward. With effort Shimomura succeeded in moving the surfboard back toward the beach. A breaker swept them over a reef of sharp coral and into a quieter area. With Shimomura paddling and Taylor’s wife pushing, they reached wadable water. Others then waded to them and took Taylor to the beach.
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