Ronald H. Rhoads saved Lloyd E. Hand from drowning, St. Simons Island, Georgia, August 25, 1961. When he fell into St. Simons Sound, Lloyd, 8, was submerged briefly in deep water and then struggled to stay afloat as a strong tidal current carried him away from a pier where Ronald, 16, schoolboy, and others were fishing. Ronald saw Lloyd in the water, which he knew was inhabited by sting rays and at times by sharks. Running 90 feet to the railing of the pier, Ronald climbed onto it and dived into the water. He swam 40 feet and reached Lloyd, who then was in water 30 feet deep and still flailing his arms. Ronald calmed Lloyd and then told him to hold to his shoulders, which he did. Because the piling of the pier afforded no handholds and was encrusted with barnacles, Ronald started towing Lloyd toward a ramp at shore nearly 300 feet away. With difficulty Ronald swam 200 feet diagonally across the strong current with Lloyd. By then beginning to tire, he continued with effort to wadable water and waded to the ramp with him.
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