Raymond J. Desadier saved Betty W. Durham from drowning, Jasper, Texas, September 29, 2004. Durham, 57, was the driver of a van that, in an accident, left the roadway, entered the Angelina River, and sank. She emerged from the van and was swept downstream by the swift current. A coworker, Desadier, 25, business manager, had been driving behind Durham and witnessed the accident. He stopped at the scene and ran to the riverbank, where he saw Durham, who was a nonswimmer, at the surface of the water, which was about 14 feet deep. Fully clothed, Desadier entered the river and swam to Durham, who was about 60 feet from the bank. He grasped her by the hand and swam against the current back toward the bank. Two other men had arrived by then and met them in wadable water, and they removed Durham from the river, Desadier following after pausing to catch his breath. Durham was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for scratches and bruises, from which she recovered.
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