Michael D. Keane died helping to save Michael J. O’Neill from drowning, Chicago, Illinois, November 13, 1972. O’Neill, 19, college student, was on a pier extending into Lake Michigan when a large swell swept him into turbulent water about 10 feet deep. Keane, 19, college student, was among others on the pier. He and another student assumed prone positions, held to a post, and grasped O’Neill when the surf moved him back against the pier. With difficulty as swells broke over them, Keane and the student held onto O’Neill, who was able to get both arms around the post. In lifting O’Neill, who eventually got his legs onto the pier, Keane and the student each released his hold on the post. Other swells washed Keane and the student into the water. O’Neill remained safely on the pier, and the student was moved shoreward to safety; but Keane drowned.
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