Francis William O’Hara attempted to save Jose A. Orellana from drowning, Narragansett, Rhode Island, July 16, 2007. Orellana, 43, was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean when a rip current took him farther from shore and prevented him from returning. On the beach in the vicinity, O’Hara, 48, an off-duty firefighter, became aware of the situation. He waded and swam to Orellana, reaching him at a point about 150 feet out. O’Hara hooked Orellana by the arm and began to tow him to shore, but en route, Orellana went limp, submerging his face. O’Hara repositioned him and continued toward shore, where others in wadable water took Orellana to the beach. O’Hara performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Orellana until emergency personnel responded. Orellana was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead of drowning.
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