Patrick S. Payne attempted to help save Rick C. Abille from drowning, Hanalei, Hawaii, December 17, 2006. Rick, 14, was swimming in the Pacific Ocean off a beach at the mouth of the Lumahai River. A wave knocked him off his boogie board, and strong ocean and river currents carried him farther from shore. He shouted for help. Payne, 41, network engineer, was one of three coworkers who were at the beach. On hearing Rick shout for help, Payne entered the water and began to swim to him, following one of his coworkers, who swam out with a body board. The coworker took Rick on his back, but then they as well as Payne were swept toward a rocky promontory that, extending a few hundred feet from shore, formed the far bank of the river. Battered by the waves, Payne struggled to stay afloat. The second coworker, responding to the scene with two body boards, entered the surf, made his way to Payne, and gave him one of the boards. Losing the board, Payne was swept farther out, around the end of the promontory, to where he was recovered by rescue personnel. He required hospital treatment for having nearly drowned, and he recovered. Rick and the first coworker were also recovered by rescue personnel, and they too required hospital treatment. The second coworker drowned.
80208 – 9187
80208-9187