John Edward Skitch, Jr., died after helping attempt to save Daphne F. Burns from drowning, Panama City, Florida, May 2, 1983. Mrs. Burns, 63, was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico when her brother, Skitch, 47, automobile fleet sales representative, became concerned that she was out too far in the rough surf. He swam to her and aided her several hundred feet toward shore to a point where they called for help. A lifeguard entered the surf for them and took Mrs. Burns back to the beach; another lifeguard took a rope to Skitch, who was then pulled to shore. Both Skitch and Mrs. Burns drowned.
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