[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO JOHN T. BORISOFF

                                 ______


                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 1994

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to 
receive earlier this week a letter from Walter Rutkowski, executive 
vice president of the Carneigie Hero Fund Commission. Mr. Rutkowski 
informed me that the commission has awarded a medal to John T. 
Borisoff, a resident of New Bedford, in recognition of the courageous 
steps he took which resulted in the rescuing of John Bent who was in 
danger of drowning. I am attaching to these remarks the description of 
this event which the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission sent to me. Mr. 
Borisoff was joined in this effort by John M. Beane, who also received 
a medal for his lifesaving work. Mr. Beane and Mr. Borisoff ought to be 
widely recognized for their extraordinary courage and willingness to 
put their own lives in danger to help another, and the Carnegie Hero 
Fund Commission is to be commended for doing its part to recognize such 
efforts.

  The description follows:

       John T. Borisoff helped to save John M. Bent from drowning, 
     East Sandwich, Massachusetts, August 2, 1992. Bent, 35, was 
     fishing at the mouth of Scorton Creek when he lost his 
     footing and was carried by a very swift current into the 63-
     degree water of Cape Cod Bay. His chest-high waders filled 
     with water, weighing him down and precluding his returning to 
     shore against the current. He shouted for help as he 
     struggled to stay afloat. Other fishermen, including 
     Borisoff, 23, assistant produce manager, were alerted to his 
     situation. Borisoff and another man disrobed, entered the 
     bay, and swam to Bent, who by then was about 450 feet from 
     shore and was losing consciousness. Borisoff and the other 
     man grasped Bent and attempted to return him to shore, but 
     they made little progress against the current. Learning that 
     a boat had been dispatched, Borisoff and the other man kept 
     Bent afloat until the boat arrived several minutes later. 
     After the other man boarded the vessel, Borisoff, from the 
     water, lifted Bent as the others pulled him aboard. Borisoff 
     himself then boarded the boat, which returned the men to 
     shore, where Bent was taken to a hospital for treatment of 
     hypothermia. He recovered. Borisoff was tired and numb, but 
     he recovered shortly.

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