Katherine S. Martin saved Linda N. May and Linda L. Hoppe from drowning, Leucadia, California, August 20, 1964. Miss May, 13, a poor swimmer, and Miss Hoppe, 15, who could not swim, lost their footing while wading in surf in the Pacific Ocean and were carried seaward by the currents. Miss Martin, 35, health education supervisor was attracted and ran 200 feet to the-water, limping due to a twisted knee. She waded and swam through the breakers and reached Miss May in deep water 480 feet from shore. Miss May was flailing wildly and grasped Miss Martin, causing them to be submerged. After breaking away and surfacing with Miss May, Miss Martin began towing her shoreward. They were submerged briefly several more times by the breakers and by Miss May’s struggles as Miss Martin towed her to wadable water 50 feet from shore. She aided Miss May 20 feet farther toward the beach and met a youth. Miss Martin was told Miss Hoppe was drowning. Although she was extremely tired, Miss Martin took a four-foot plastic float board from the youth and with difficulty swam back to where she had found Miss May. She then saw Miss Hoppe, who had been carried farther from the beach and a considerable distance along the shore. Miss Martin swam a quarter of a mile farther to reach Miss Hoppe, who by that time had lost consciousness and was four feet beneath the surface 900 feet from shore. Winded and fatigued, Miss Martin held to the board. Her limbs ached so badly that she feared to dive lest she be unable to return to the surface. She lowered her feet and with them lifted Miss Hoppe part way. She then drew her to the surface. For 10 minutes Miss Martin trod water and tried without success to revive Miss Hoppe. She floated on her back and drew the board and Miss Hoppe on top of her. Using her legs, Miss Martin swam 450 feet toward shore and reached the breaker area. The surf aided her as she towed Miss Hoppe 400 feet farther to wadable water and again met the youth. He aided Miss Martin, who was badly winded and nearly exhausted, in taking Miss Hoppe to the beach. She was revived.
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