Vernon J. Crider saved Deborah J. Hathaway from drowning, Palm Beach Shores, Florida., April 21, 1967. While swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, Miss Hathaway, 20, got into trouble in a trough in which the water was as much as 40 feet deep. She was unable to make any progress shoreward because of eccentric currents in the area. Crider, 26, pumphouse operator, was working in a pumphouse alongside the trough and became aware of the situation. Wearing bathing trunks, he jumped from the pumphouse into the water 10 feet below and swam 60 feet to Miss Hathaway, who then was 90 feet from shore in water 40 feet deep between breakers five to six feet high. She grasped Crider around the neck and wrapped her legs about him, causing both of them to be submerged briefly. Crider was unable to free himself, and they alternately sank and rose as the currents carried them toward a jetty where waves were breaking on rocks around it. Crider then succeeded in freeing himself from Miss Hathaway, who lapsed into semiconsciousness. With difficulty, Crider towed Miss Hathaway 100 feet over an erratic course until he was beyond the trough and out of the strongest currents. They then were 125 feet from shore. Tiring steadily, Crider towed Miss Hathaway 110, feet toward the beach and reached wadable water. A wave swept them away from shore again. A young man reached them with a life ring, its rope being held by persons on the beach. All were pulled to shore. Miss Hathaway revived and recovered. 49606-5404
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