Patrick M. Callahan

Patrick M. Callahan, 12, schoolboy, helped to save John R. Hunt, 40, corporation controller, from drowning, Ocean City, Maryland, September 22, 1968. Hunt, on an inflated plastic raft, was in the surf in the Atlantic Ocean when he drifted into a riptide area. His struggles to retain a hold on the raft tore a hole in it. Hunt became entangled in the deflated raft and was carried seaward. When his attention was called to the situation, Patrick, on a surfboard, paddled to 150 feet from the beach, meeting the breakers head-on. He turned and paddled parallel to shore another 150 feet to Hunt, who then was unable to move his legs. Patrick slid into the water, which was eight feet deep between waves, and freed Hunt from the plastic raft. He then tried without success to aid him onto the surfboard. William B, Hall III also with a surfboard, paddled through the breakers to 150 feet from the beach. He then turned and continued parallel to shore to Patrick and Hunt. William slid into the water and thrust his surfboard away, the waves moving it to shore. Together William and Patrick lifted Hunt onto Patrick’s surfboard. Hunt then lost consciousness. Towing the board with Hunt on it, Patrick and William swam back toward the beach on a diagonal course. Whenever a wave caused Hunt to slip partially off the board, they readjusted his position. Patrick and William were very tired by the time they had towed Hunt on the board approximately 700 feet to shore. Hunt was revived.