Ronald Gene Loch, 17, student, died helping to save Jolene A. McCafferty, 15, from drowning, Sandusky, Ohio, August 5, 1965. While wading near a sand bar in Lake Erie, Miss McCafferty stepped into water nine feet deep and called for help as she paddled wildly without making progress toward wadable water. Ronald, who had an asthmatic condition, swam 30 feet and took hold of her. Her struggles caused them to be submerged briefly. She broke away from Ronald who immediately obtained another hold. Miss McCafferty again broke away from Ronald, her struggles forcing them beneath the surface. By that time George M. Loch, Jr., Ronald’s father, had entered the water and was swimming toward them. He saw Miss McCafferty surface and noted Ronald face down in the water nearby. George swam a 150 feet and reached Miss McCafferty, whose face then was under water. Obtaining a hold under her chin, George held her face above the surface. He felt her condition was such that she surely would drown if he released her to search for Ronald, who had sunk. Too fatigued to tow Miss McCafferty back to the sand bar, George supported her for approximately four minutes. He was nearly exhausted by the time a motorboat reached them. They were taken aboard the boat, which proceeded to shore.
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