John M. Murphy

John M. Murphy helped rescue Mark E. Likos from drowning, Castella, California, December 18, 2021. Likos, 71, was fishing in the 44-degree upper Sacramento River when he lost his footing and was carried downstream, where he was able to reach and brace himself against an underwater boulder between two swift currents. Likos was only able to hold his head above the surface of the water against the downstream current washing against him. He shouted for help. Murphy, 39, stay-at-home parent, who had gone to the river with Likos, was fishing upstream and heard shouts. Murphy moved downstream along the bank and entered the water. He swam downstream in a current about 30 feet to reach Likos. Murphy positioned himself on the boulder and straddled Likos from behind. He braced his feet on rocks in front of him and pulled Likos’s upper body out of the water and against his chest. Likos fell in and out of consciousness and Murphy had to wake him repeatedly. The current threatened to pull the men into deeper currents on either side of them and Murphy had to adjust their position several times. Rescue personnel arrived after Likos had been in the water for 90 minutes and Murphy for an hour. Murphy then helped two rescue swimmers move Likos to an expose boulder upstream, from which Likos was removed from the river via helicopter. He suffered hypothermia and nerve damage to his hands and arms. Murphy, who was nearly exhausted, was assisted from the water by rescue personnel. He suffered mild hypothermia; he recovered.