Mark A. McCullagh helped to save a girl and Leonard Terry from drowning, Charlotte, North Carolina, January 12, 2010. A 9-year-old girl walked onto the ice of a partially frozen pond at an apartment complex and broke through at a point about 60 feet from the nearer bank. Although he could not swim, Terry, 25, walked onto the ice toward her and extended a hand to her, but then he broke through the ice. The girl clung to his back as he trod water, submerging repeatedly, and called for help. McCullagh, 46, business executive, was alerted to the situation from his nearby home. He responded to the pond, where he removed his outer attire and then crawled across the ice to the open water. McCullagh managed to get the girl onto solid ice, and she made her way to safety, but he broke through himself and entered the frigid water. McCullagh then supported Terry, who outweighed him, against the solid ice as they awaited help. Arriving fire personnel used ropes and a ladder to pull Terry, and then McCullagh, from the open water and across the ice to safety. The girl was taken to the hospital, as were Terry and McCullagh, McCullagh requiring treatment for hypothermia. He recovered.
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