By Dave Newman
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/newmanarrestedafterdrwoningrescue08jul05.shtml
July 8, 2005

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/07/8Newman_edit.html

Original Title
A man is alive because I acted, so why am I in trouble?

Dave Newman saved Houston resident Abed Duamni on Sunday from this spot in the San Marcos River near Joe's Crab Shack.

Overall, I have a feeling of comfort and satisfaction in just knowing that I was able to save the life of another human being. I was just in the right place at the right time.

On Sunday in San Marcos, I feel that I made a correct decision to momentarily delay complying with police directives in order to make one more dive into the underwater cavity where Abed Duamni had been trapped for more than 10 minutes.

I knew time was of the essence if a rescue was possible at all, but I did believe at the time that Duamni more than likely had already drowned.

I knew that I had touched something in that cavity on the previous attempt, and I made a decision to go down for one more try, against police orders. On that last attempt, I did locate the trapped swimmer. I was able to extract him from the underwater cavity and push him toward the surface. When I surfaced, I was overwhelmed with astonishment to find him alive and well, clinging to a wall amid the turbulent water.

I was also amazed that the police subsequently arrested me and took me to jail. I did take a few moments to catch my breath on the other side of the river before I had to swim again, this time over to the officers, but I maintain that I complied with their request to exit the river, immediately after the higher priority of saving that man's life.

From the police news conference on Tuesday, I was hoping for some good news that the Fire Marshall's office and the Texas State University-San Marcos Police Department might have reconsidered their decision to prosecute, but it appears that police actually have arrived at the conclusion that I was part of the problem.

Officials even raised the question as to whether I had actually rescued that man at all, and they implied that Duamni had somehow rescued himself.

Had there been divers in the area, ready to take over, I would have gladly moved aside, yet I saw no rescue divers at the scene. Having been underwater for 10 minutes already, Duamni may or may not have survived long enough under there for a rescue response team to get him out alive. I knew and hoped that maybe I had a chance there to help him, and I stand by the decision that I made that day.

I can only hope that if under slightly different circumstances — that if I were in dire need or trouble — some good Samaritan would come to my aid. I have been helped by others in the past, and I feel that it is my obligation and duty to do the same.

I still have a criminal charge hanging over my head, a brand new police record and legitimate concerns about how this will affect my professional career.

I hope that the fire marshall's office and the police will come to their senses and let this matter drop.

Newman, a corporate airline pilot, lives in San Marcos.

Photo: Laura Skelding/AMERICAN-STATESMAN

***Update***

----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Daigle" <mgoose1@bellsouth.net>
To: <Editor@educate-yourself.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:20 AM
Subject: San Marcos, Texas, Dave Newman arrest

As of July 8th, charges were dropped on Mr. Newman - thank goodness they came to their senses. You might want to update the page to reflect that. I
really like your site.

Laura Daigle