Michael Daniel DeMauro helped to save Lauril A. McAlister and four others from drowning, Harvey Cedars, New Jersey, July 1, 1967. At a beach on the Atlantic Ocean, Lauril, 13, her 11-year-old brother, her 15-year-old sister, and a 14-year-old girl were swimming in moderate surf. Lauril’s father learned that in the area there was a strong current seaward due to a rock jetty, and he entered the water to warn the four young people. He reached them about 200 feet from shore, felt the pull of the seaward current, and decided he would be unable to get the four youths back to the beach without help. Michael, 15, schoolboy, and his younger brother noted the five persons in the water and ran to the beach. With his brother holding one end of a plastic lifeline, Michael wrapped the buoy end of the line around his waist and swam to the group as they attempted to keep from being carried farther out by the current. By then they were 240 feet from shore, where the water was 12 feet deep. After handing the buoy to Lauril, Michael then extended the lifeline to the other three youths and to the father. They clung to the line, as did Michael. The latter’s brother and several adults pulled on the line, drawing all shoreward. Progress was slow until they were out of the area of the strong current. By then others also were pulling on the line, and all six persons were drawn to shore. 49800-5441
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