Kenneth J. Stephens, Sr., died after saving Priscilla M. DeLira and attempting to save Pauline R. Yambao from drowning, Ocklawaha, Florida, June 13, 2011. Priscilla, 8, and Yambao, 44, were swimming in Lake Weir not far off a boat that was anchored about 1,500 feet from the closer bank. Aboard the boat were Priscilla’s parents as well as the boat’s operator, Stephens, 55, blast team supervisor, who was Priscilla’s uncle and Yambao’s brother-in-law. Yambao experienced difficulty while swimming and began to struggle with Priscilla, who was wearing a life jacket. Stephens immediately jumped into the water, swam to Priscilla, and returned her to the boat, where her parents took her aboard to safety. Stephens then swam back toward Yambao but submerged suddenly and did not resurface. Yambao had also submerged. Their bodies were recovered from the lake the following day; they had drowned.
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