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Dead Body in the River |
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June 18-2000:
Wow - yesterday will be a day out of my life that I will never forget. Here's the recount:
Every Saturday we go to the Branch President's Jogurt store for lunch. On the way back home, crossing over Ponte Talvera, a German tourist came running up and in broken English asked us if we were police. We said no and then asked why. He said there was a person in the water who looked knocked out or dead.
We quickly had him find a person to call the police while we ran down to investigate. I came running down to the shore a little bit after my comp. (Anz. Platt) - Before I got there I saw him taking off his shoes and tie about to get in the water. I said "No, don't go in there!" Then he said "There's the body!" pointing to the river.
Sure enough - when I looked there was a woman's body caught on the rocks looking lifeless in her bathing suit. Elder Platt quickly said "C'mon let's say a prayer" so we knelt down on the bank and I said a quick prayer for God's help and safety. While saying "Amen" Elder Platt climbed into the Talvera stream to rescue the woman.
I watched as he arrived at the body and commenced slapping her trying to revive her and doing everything possible to help. Then he attempted to carry her back to shore, but she was too heavy - That's when he called me to come help.
So I popped my shoes off and climbed in. The current was pretty swift and swept my legs out a few times. The water was quite cold and came up to my chest in places. I finally arrived to the body and started helping to drag her back to shore.
I noticed a crowd gathering on the bridge with a group of gawking Italians. I also noticed, as I hefted the body, something quite shocking - the woman was one of our contacts - Laura.
We finally managed to get her to shore right as the police arrived. There was a doctor lady who was passing by and she started doing C.P.R. but it was too late. |
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