Michael Mauldin saved Brian K. Beaman from drowning, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, July 15, 2003. Brian, 8, was wading in the Atlantic Ocean when he was carried farther from shore into water beyond his depth. His father entered the water for him but had difficulty while attempting to reach him. Lying nearby on the beach, Mauldin, 43, police officer, was alerted to the situation. A strong swimmer but inexperienced with swimming in the ocean, Mauldin ran into the water and waded and swam to Brian, then about 170 feet from shore. He grasped Brian by the arm and began to swim back to shore directly but made little progress and tired from the effort. Concluding that they were caught by an undertow, Mauldin began to swim toward shore at an angle, and he signaled to Brian’s father to do the same. With great effort, Mauldin towed Brian to wadable water, where another man helped them to shore. Brian’s father also reached shore. He and Mauldin were exhausted, but they recovered. Brian was uninjured.
78073 – 8977
78073-8977