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thedrifter
05-27-03, 05:40 PM
May 27, 2003

Marines rescue fisherman

Associated Press


ALLENHURST, N.J. — A fisherman knocked off a jetty by a large wave was pulled from the ocean by two Marines who were in the area because their scuba diving trip had been delayed by the rough seas.
Ryan Baker and Michael Valenti were waiting to see if the conditions would improve when they saw Brian Barry, 30, of Trenton, go into the ocean around 2 p.m. Sunday. They then stripped to their underwear and made their way through the choppy water to reach Barry, who was in full fishing gear and about 45 yards from shore.

Valenti’s fiancée, Colleen McDermott, called police as the two men got Barry and brought him toward shore. Allenhurst, N.J., Police Sgt. S. Gregory Karn and Patrolman Michael B. Schneider and two borough residents, Jack Webster and Matt Beegle, then helped them bring Barry to the beach.

“(Barry) was in the water in his waders and the water had filled his waders,” Douglas Caron, who witnessed the rescue, told the Asbury Park Press of Neptune for Tuesday’s editions. “He was bleeding bad (and) he was gasping for air.”

Barry was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, where he was treated and released. He was not immediately available for comment.

Baker, 23, of Fair Oaks, Calif., and Valenti, 24, of Ocean Township, are stationed in Quantico, Va., and are currently on leave. They downplayed their actions, saying they were just thankful that they could help Barry.

“We had plans to go (scuba diving) this morning and it was rough, and when we got back it was rougher,” Valenti said. “We saw a fisherman on a jetty, and waves were just breaking over it. A wave went over it, and we didn’t see the guy anymore.”

Barry’s mother, Vera, 72, thanked the pair for their efforts. She said one of Barry’s brothers had died about year ago and she initially thought she had lost another child.

“The Lord and his brother must have been watching over him,” she said.






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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.


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