Shirley Frances O'neill

Shirley Frances O’Neill, 19, student, saved Albert C. Kogler, 19, student, from drowning following a shark attack, San Francisco, California, May 7, 1959. While Kogler and Miss O’Neill were swimming in the waters of the Golden Gate, Kogler was attacked by a shark in water 27 feet deep 150 feet from shore. The shark tore away parts of his arm, shoulder, and back, causing Kogler to bleed profusely. Kogler screamed a warning to Miss O’Neill, who had been floating nearby and was the only other person in the water. Miss O’Neill started toward shore but upon hearing Kogler’s cries for help swam 20 feet back to Kogler although she observed a churning in the water around him. Unable to take hold of Kogler’s arm or shoulder because they were too badly torn, Miss O’Neill told him to float on his back, which he did. She then put her arm across his chest and began swimming with him toward the beach through swells two feet high. The current helped carry them shoreward. Together they moved 90 feet to within 60 feet of the beach, from where a man cast a heavy fishing line to them. Miss O’Neill tied the line around Kogler’s arm and also about her own wrist. The man and others then pulled on the line, drawing Kogler and Miss O’Neill to within 25 feet of the beach. Two men wearing hip boots waded to them and carried Kogler ashore. He was removed to a hospital, where he died two hours later.