Kevin Patrick Cotter attempted to save a man from drowning, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, July 6, 2014. An 18-year-old man jumped from a cliff into a narrow cove off the Pacific Ocean and became caught in the turbulent water created there by the surge and retreat of series of large waves. After another man was swept into the cove during a rescue attempt, Kevin, 17, high school student, who was in another party at the scene, jumped into the water and swam to the victim. They were swept into a cave beneath the cliff, where Kevin grasped the man, who was unconscious by then, and submerged with him to avoid being thrown against the cave’s back wall. Kevin swam with the victim before they were separated by waves, and he was repeating the effort when they were separated again. Tiring as they were buffeted by the wave activity, Kevin and the first rescuer were able to reach safety at opposite sides of the cove. The larger waves subsiding momentarily about then, a friend of the first rescuer dived into the cove, swam to the victim, and towed him to the edge of the water, where he was revived. Kevin suffered cuts while climbing out of the water, but he did not seek medical treatment, and he recovered.
87338 – 9781
87338-9781