Emron A. Yancey saved Dennis P. Downey and two others from drowning, Stinson Beach, California, February 23, 1963. Dennis, 15, schoolboy, was submerged by a breaker while swimming in the Pacific Ocean and surfaced 235 feet from shore in water 12 feet deep. Choking on water he had swallowed, he tried vainly to swim shoreward but became caught in an undercurrent and called for help. Emron, 15, schoolboy, swam 60 feet to Dennis and towed him to wadable water 50 feet from shore. Because Dennis was too weak to stand alone, Emron dragged him to the beach. Meanwhile two teenagers, a girl and her brother, had gotten into difficulty 200 feet from shore and called for help. Emron waded and swam through breakers three feet high to the girl. He moved behind her and took hold of her as she struggled to remain afloat. By the time he had towed her 15 feet toward shore, Emron was beginning to tire. He towed her 75 feet farther to wadable water, from where another youth aided her to the beach. Tired and somewhat winded, Emron with effort swam 150 feet to the brother, who was working his arms feebly. Emron obtained a hold on the youth, who was larger than he, and with effort towed him to within 80 feet of shore. A man waded and swam to them and relieved Emron of the youth. Emron was so near exhaustion that he held to the man’s shoulder while the latter towed them 30 feet and then helped them to wade to the beach. All recovered.
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