Bernard M. Keogh helped to save Paul B. Ruetenik and others from drowning and exposure, Milford, Ontario, May 15, 1960. Ruetenik, 56, greenhouse operator, and Carl D. Baldesare while returning from fishing found two other members of their party, Albert J. Grigsby and Raymond Rubly, clinging to an overturned boat in Prince Edward Bay and attempted to lift them into their own motorboat, which then capsized. All four men clung to that craft but grew steadily weaker from the cold water as the motorboat was buffeted by strong winds and two-foot waves. Grigsby soon lost consciousness and was aided onto the bottom of the boat. Keogh, 39, farmer, was summoned by Brian C. York, who had noticed the nearest boat a quarter of a mile away. The two men, both of whom suffered from back ailments, then launched an eight-foot rowboat, which was in poor condition. Keogh rowed with difficulty to the capsized craft but found no one there and returned to shore. Sighting the second overturned motorboat, Keogh and York both entered the rowboat and started toward it. The rowboat shipped water and several times nearly capsized as, despite breaking an oar, they made their way a mile and a quarter to the overturned craft, which then was 300 feet from shore. By that time the men had been in the water about two hours. Keogh grasped Ruetenik, pulled him partially over the stern of the rowboat, and held him there. Because the boat’s freeboard then was only four inches, York paddled the craft to wadable water, where he and Keogh got out. They pushed the rowboat to shore and removed Ruetenik, who was barely conscious. While York attempted to revive Ruetenik, Keogh paddled the rowboat back to the motorboat, which meanwhile had drifted 100 feet nearer shore. He attempted to tie onto the overturned craft in order to tow it, but wave conditions prevented him from doing so. Calling to York for assistance, Keogh maneuvered the rowboat to behind the motorboat and began nudging it shoreward. York waded and swam 150 feet to the motorboat. He then towed the craft to shore with Keogh nudging it from behind. By that time Rubly and Baldesare also were unconscious, and the rowboat contained four inches of water. While York gave Grigsby artificial respiration, Keogh went for help. Others arrived and relieved York. Grigsby could not be revived, but Ruetenik, Baldesare, and Rubly responded and later recovered. Keogh and York, both of whom were exhausted, also recovered.
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