Mark A. Krempasky attempted to rescue Christine L. Beheler from drowning, Cortland, Ohio, July 29, 2019. Beheler, 41, entered a designated swimming area of Mosquito Creek Lake to aid a boy who had entered deep water and struggled to remain afloat. During the encounter between Beheler and the boy, the boy submerged Beheler. Krempasky, 43, police officer, who was on the shore nearby, was alerted and, entering the water, swam to Beheler and the boy. Krempasky grasped Beheler, who was facedown in the water and unresponsive, turned her over and positioned her in front of him. He then wrapped his arm across her chest and towed her toward the shore, despite experiencing difficulty moving through vegetation on the lake’s bottom. Krempasky, holding onto Beheler, ultimately reached a point near the shore and called for help as he was nearly exhausted. Others responded and assisted in moving her to the beach where efforts were made to resuscitate her. Beheler, taken by ambulance to a hospital, could not be revived and died of drowning. Krempasky was nearly exhausted but did not require treatment.
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