Geoffrey Hoare helped to save Henry R. Ciccone from drowning, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 27, 1994. Ciccone, 64, was thrown from his sailboat into the rough seas of English Bay during a strong wind. Fellow crew members encountered difficulty during a rescue attempt, and the boat drifted away. Walking on the south shore of the bay, Hoare, 41, witnessed the accident. After seeing that the Coast Guard cutter that had been dispatched was going after the sailboat, Hoare called authorities to direct their attention to Ciccone, then afloat in the surf about 300 feet from shore. Assuming that help would arrive soon, Hoare removed his outer attire, jumped into the rough, cold water, and, taking a life ring, swam to Ciccone, who was weakening. Hoare put the life ring around Ciccone, then, establishing a hold on him, succeeded in getting him closer to shore. When the Coast Guard cutter arrived after several minutes, a rescue specialist from that vessel entered the water and swam to Ciccone and Hoare, both of whom were cold and tired. The rescue specialist towed Ciccone to shore, and Hoare swam there on his own. Ciccone and Hoare both required hospital treatment for hypothermia, and they recovered.
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