Ricardo S. Giron saved Sandy A. and Leonardo H. Garcia from drowning, Las Vegas, New Mexico, September 5, 1999. Sandy, 6; Leonardo, 8, and their older brother were struggling to stay afloat in water beyond their depth in a cove of Storrie Lake. Giron, 42, financial advisor, was on his boat in the cove when he became aware of the children’s situation. He took the boat toward the children, then dived from it and swam to Sandy. After a brief struggle, during which he was submerged, Giron established a hold on Sandy and towed her to wadable water near the bank, from which others then removed her from the lake. Despite his tiring and injuring himself in a fall at the bank, Giron re-entered the water when he saw that Leonardo was still in the cove. He swam to Leonardo and towed him back to wadable water, from which others took Leonardo from the lake. Nearly exhausted, Giron too required help in leaving the water. Sandy was treated at the scene by paramedics, and Leonardo was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released later that day. The children’s brother drowned.
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