Mathew B. Vizbulis saved Shailesh H., Smit S., and Hasya S. Shah from drowning, Niagara Falls, Ontario, July 29, 2006. Shah, 41, and his sons Smit, 14, and Hasya, 11, were caught in an eddy off the bank of the Niagara River, in a remote area below Niagara Falls in which the river was narrowed, extremely swift, and turbulent. Vizbulis, 28, artist, was rock climbing along the bank when screaming at the scene attracted his attention. He responded to the river and saw that the three victims were floating face down in the water and unconscious. Removing his shirt and shoes, Vizbulis entered the river, which was not wadable there, and with difficulty swam to the eddy. First contacting Shah, he pulled his face from the water and then grasped him under the arms and towed him to the bank, where others aided him from the river. Vizbulis swam back to the eddy, next reaching Smit, and returned him to the bank. Shah and Smit regained consciousness. Vizbulis swam out a third time, for Hasya, and took him in to safety. Hasya regained a degree of consciousness and was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for having nearly drowned. He recovered.
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