Julian W. Fant helped to save Rudolph J. and Rudolph C. Crews and helped attempt to save Walter J. Boatright from drowning, South Ponte Vedra, Florida, October 26, 1958. When Rudolph J., 11; Boatright, 28; and eight other men and boys attempted to set a large fishing seine in the rough surf at an Atlantic Ocean beach, they became caught in a very strong undercurrent and were carried away from shore. Two of the men swam back to the beach, and an unidentified man rescued five of the other victims. Boatright swam to Rudolph to aid him, but they were carried to a point 500 feet out, intermittently being submerged by breakers and waves. Rudolph’s father, Rudolph C., 36, swam to his son but made no headway in towing him. Two lifeguards reached them but made no progress in getting the men back to shore. Meanwhile, Fant, 27, radio announcer, and others launched a 14-foot motorboat from the beach and took it to a point about 900 feet out, where Rudolph’s father and Boatright were being supported by the lifeguards. Fant entered the water and aided Rudolph into the craft, which then was moved to Rudolph’s father. Fant again entered the water and aided the lifeguard in getting him into the boat. When the craft was moved to Boatright, who was inert, Fant once more entered the water, and he and the lifeguard got Boatright aboard, with difficulty. The boat soon capsized, about 800 feet from shore. Boatright rested on a life preserver from the boat as Fant began towing him toward the beach. Two other men swam out, one of them reaching Boatright and Fant at a point about 650 feet from shore. He aided Fant in towing Boatright toward the beach, but at a point about 100 feet from shore they encountered a strong undercurrent. They fought the current but made no headway. One of the other rescuers joined them, and for 10 minutes the three men tried unsuccessfully to move Boatright toward the beach. A responding Navy helicopter lowered a cable sling and dragged the four men to shore. Boatright could not be revived. All of the others survived. 45077-4334
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