Mack B. Ray helped to save Evelyn Knobloch, 8, from drowning, St. Augustine, Florida, July 9, 1955. Evelyn, 8, a nonswimmer, was playing in the surf at Vilano Beach with four others, including a woman and her young daughter. All five were caught by a wave and swept beyond the breaker line into deep water 100 feet from shore. The other girl floundered at the surface, and the woman attempted to help Evelyn as the other two persons swam to shore and summoned Ray, 38, farmer, and others. After two men refused to help because of the undertow, Ray secured a torpedo-type life preserver and swam 135 feet to a point near the other girl, who still was able to stay afloat. Noting that the woman apparently was lifeless, Ray swam 55 feet farther to Evelyn, who was unconscious and floating facedown. Grasping Evelyn’s hair, he turned her onto her back and began towing her toward the beach, swimming with great effort against the strong undercurrent. Fifteen feet from the breaker line, he became tired and winded and called for help from two men standing in wadable water 25 feet away. Receiving no response, he towed Evelyn with extreme effort to the breaker line, where a wave submerged him briefly. Evelyn and the preserver slipped from his grasp and drifted back into deep water as Ray was carried to within 50 feet of the beach, where he was helped ashore. Another man returned Evelyn and the other two victims to shore. Evelyn was revived, and she recovered three days later. The woman could not be revived. Ray was nervous, but he recovered. 43707-4042
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