Kenny Crosby

Kenny Crosby helped rescue Gary J. Simard from drowning, Salisbury, Massachusetts, September 20, 2023. Gary, 12, struggled to swim amid a rip current in the Atlantic Ocean in water about 8 feet deep, more than 75 from shore. Gary shouted for help and his father swam out to Gary, who had been pulled to a point about 150 feet from shore. The father grasped Gary by an arm and tried to swim toward shore, but the current impeded his efforts. Crosby, 34, business owner, was alerted that both Gary and the father were struggling. Despite the strong rip current, Crosby entered the water and swam to Gary and his father, still about 150 feet from shore. Upon reaching them, the father handed Gary to Crosby. At some point, Gary’s father submerged and did not resurface. With Gary in tow, Crosby tried to swim toward shore but the current prevented him, so he swam north, parallel to shore with Gary to wadable water, where he pushed Gary toward a man standing in chest-deep water. Gary and the other man exited onto the beach, soon followed by Crosby. Gary was checked by paramedics at the scene and found to be uninjured. Emergency personnel reached the father in the water, brought him onto shore, and attempted to revive him but were unsuccessful. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had drowned. Crosby ingested water and had trouble breathing following the rescue. Crosby was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was monitored for water in his lungs. He was released and recovered in about a week.

2023-0000108-10567