John James Hoey died attempting to save Stephanie D. Cuccio, Jeffery K. Nelms, and others from drowning, Watsonville, California, May 19, 1983. Miss Guecio, 18, and Jeffery, 15, were among several persons who were carried into the Pacific Ocean by a rip current at Sunset State Beach. John, 16, high school student, entered the water on hearing their cries for help and began to swim to them. After obtaining an inflated innertube from another swimmer, John swam to Miss Cuccio and Jeffery. Miss Cuccio used the innertube for support until she and Jeffery were separated from John. Miss Cuccio, Jeffery, and the others were saved by an off-duty firefighter who had been at the beach. John drowned.
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