Morris Jay Wiener, 22, student, attempted to save Michael J. Bernardo, 18, schoolboy, from drowning, Milford, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1964. At Lake Log Tavern, Bernardo and two other youths dived from a dock and swam to near an anchored raft 125 feet from shore. Bernardo then said he felt ill and sank in water 40 feet deep. A man swam to the area and dived for Bernardo but was unable to reach him. Wiener, who was experienced at scuba diving, was apprised of the situation and ran 1500 feet to the dock. He entered the water, swam to where Bernardo had sunk, and dived to a depth of 35 feet but did not see him. While Wiener made further dives, others brought his scuba gear to him. He dived wearing the gear but could not get air properly and found that the equipment had been damaged. Unable to repair it, Wiener decided to use the faulty gear. He dived to the bottom of the lake where the water temperature was about 40 degrees. He remained at that depth for about four minutes, during which time he frequently had to remove his mouth-piece in order to discharge water he took in because of the faulty equipment. He was becoming numb when he found Bernardo and took him to the surface. Others lifted Bernardo onto the raft, and Wiener then climbed out. He assisted in artificial respiration while a physician and a nurse applied heart massage. Bernardo’s pulse improved. Wiener collapsed from exhaustion. He and Bernardo were removed to a hospital, where Bernardo died five hours later. Wiener was confined for a bronchial infection but recovered.
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