Raymond E. Lloyd saved Sara A. Watson from drowning, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, July 16, 1964. Mrs. Watson, 43, a poor swimmer, went to the aid of her 10-year-old daughter, who had been carried away from shore by an undertow in the Atlantic Ocean. Her 17-year-old daughter also entered the water. Neither was able to overtake the girl. Lloyd, 26, glass chemical packer, was on a pier 120 feet from them. Removing only his shirts he dived into the water 30 feet below and swam to the girl, whose sister meanwhile had reached her and kept her from being carried farther from the beach. From alongside the girls 100 feet from shore, Lloyd called to Mrs. Watson, who had been carried farther seaward. She was choking from water she had swallowed and said she needed help. Noting that two lifeguards were nearing the girls, who said they could stay afloat until help arrived, Lloyd swam 30 feet to where Mrs. Watson was floundering in water 10 feet deep. Tiring from his heavy shoes, Lloyd supported Mrs. Watson and prevented her from drifting farther from the beach but could not move her shoreward due to the undertow. The lifeguards took the girls to shore. One of them returned with a life preserver. Lloyd by then had supported Mrs. Watson for five minutes. The lifeguard towed Mrs. Watson to the beach. Lloyd reached shore nearly exhausted after swimming 70 feet to wadable water.
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