Joel Richard O’Barr helped to save John E. Noonan from drowning, Daytona Beach, Florida, June 10, 1970. While swimming in surf in the Atlantic Ocean, Noonan, 54, insurance adjuster, was submerged and slammed against the ocean floor. He sustained two broken ribs but surfaced and called for help. Joel, 17, college student, had just entered the water; and he swam through breakers generally three feet high to Noonan, who was in water 15 feet deep 400 feet from shore. Both then were submerged; and Joel brought Noonan to the surface. Joel had obtained a hold across the chest of Noonan when another young man arrived. Together they towed Noonan 350 feet. Both Joel and the other young man were tiring as, then in wadable water, they moved Noonan to within 30 feet of shore. Lifeguards met them and took Noonan to the beach. He recovered.
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