Jeffrey W. Sellers helped to save Rick C. Abille from drowning, Hanalei, Hawaii, December 17, 2006. Rick, 14, was swimming in the Pacific Ocean off a beach at the mouth of the Lumahai River. A wave knocked him off his boogie board, and strong ocean and river currents carried him farther from shore. He shouted for help. Sellers, 34, network administrator, was one of three coworkers who were at the beach. He had been body boarding nearby but was leaving the water because of the strength of the current. On hearing Rick shout for help, Sellers turned and swam to him and then took him on his back. They were then swept toward a rocky promontory that, extending a few hundred feet from shore, formed the far bank of the river. After they were knocked repeatedly from the board by breaking waves there, Sellers fought to swim out toward deeper water, away from the breakers. Meanwhile, one of the coworkers also swam out to help Rick, but he too was caught by the current and swept toward the promontory. The second coworker, responding to the scene with two body boards, entered the surf and made his way to Sellers and Rick. He attempted to give one of the boards to Sellers, but a wave broke over them and separated them. Sellers maintained his hold of Rick for several minutes, until responding rescue personnel returned them to shore. They required hospital treatment, Sellers for having nearly drowned, and they recovered. The first coworker was also recovered by rescue personnel and treated at the hospital. The second coworker drowned.
80209 – 9186
80209-9186