Kenneth J. Wingler helped to save two girls from drowning, Seaside Park, New Jersey, July 1, 2000. Two young girls began to yell for help while in the Atlantic Ocean off a state park beach. Wingler, 47, lift operator, ran into the water and swam to the girls, who were then about 75 feet out. The girls climbed atop him, struggling with him and submerging him at least once. Another man who had swum out from the beach arrived and grasped Wingler by one arm as the girls, atop him, held to his other arm. That man pulled Wingler and the girls toward shore but then began to flounder. Other men entered the water and aided in taking the girls to the beach, and Wingler left the water safely. He had taken in water and was exhausted, but he recovered. The first man to have helped was retrieved from the water by others, but he could not be revived.
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