Malo Enrique Paul died after attempting to save J’melia N. Richardson from drowning, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, June 8, 2013. While swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, J’melia, 15, was caught by a strong rip current that took her farther from shore. Struggling in the water, she called for help. A member of her party, Malo, 16, high school student, was in wadable water closer to shore in that vicinity. He waded and then swam toward J’melia, but the current continued to pull her farther out, and she submerged. Falling just short of reaching her, Malo began to struggle in the water. A man from their party swam to J’melia and returned her toward shore, and then he and others retrieved Malo, who had been overcome by conditions. Unconscious, Malo and J’melia required hospitalization, and Malo died eight days later. J’melia recovered.
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