Troy Otis McCormick died helping to save Janice R. Perry from drowning, Boaz, Alabama, June 22, 1971. Janice, 13, a non-swimmer, was floating on an inflated inner tube in a farm pond. In deep water, she slipped off the tube and, flailing, called for help. McCormick, 28, elementary schoolteacher, ran to the pond, removed his shoes, and entered the water. He waded and swam to Janice, who grasped him. Both went under briefly. While McCormick strove to support Janice at the surface, an inner tube was thrown toward him. McCormick got the tube and tried in vain to place it over the head of Janice, who continued flailing but then managed to obtain a hold on the tube. McCormick moaned, sank, and drowned. With the aid of the tube, Janice reached wadable water.
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