Senate Bill sb2860

    Florida Senate - 2006        (NP)                      SR 2860

    By Senator Hill





    1-1483-06

  1                        Senate Resolution

  2         A resolution honoring Longshoreman Dale Walker

  3         for his exemplary courage and heroism in

  4         rescuing Ships Agent Susan Hite from the St.

  5         Johns River on Christmas Eve Day, 2005.

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  7         WHEREAS, in a freak dockside accident at Blount Island

  8  in Jacksonville on December 24, 2005, Susan Hite was knocked

  9  unconscious and fell into the St. Johns River when the

10  rope-supported gangplank she was crossing suddenly came undone

11  and sent the gangplank crashing against the ship's hull, and

12         WHEREAS, dock workers and bystanders rushed to the

13  dock's edge and watched helplessly as Mrs. Hite's body was

14  rushed along in a racing dockside current, and

15         WHEREAS, Dale Walker saw the situation and sprinted 100

16  yards down the dock to get ahead of Mrs. Hite's location,

17  jumped down onto a dock bumper, and then into the river to

18  intercept Mrs. Hite, who was still unconscious, and

19         WHEREAS, fighting the ripping current as he held Mrs.

20  Hite's head above the surface, Mr. Walker grasped first onto

21  one pylon and then another, which cut deeply into his hands

22  with sharp encrustations of oyster shells, meanwhile shouting

23  advice to his fellow longshoremen on how to help with the

24  rescue, and

25         WHEREAS, while the men on the dock tossed down first a

26  rope and then an anchor, neither of which worked, and finally

27  a rope ladder, Mrs. Hite regained sufficient consciousness to

28  be terrified, and Mr. Walker was still calm enough to reassure

29  her that she was "not going to die that day," and

30         WHEREAS, after a 10-minute struggle up the ladder, Mr.

31  Walker brought Mrs. Hite and himself to safety, thanking God

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    Florida Senate - 2006        (NP)                      SR 2860
    1-1483-06




 1  for their rescue as Mrs. Hite thanked Mr. Walker for risking

 2  his own life to save hers, and

 3         WHEREAS, days later, Dale Walker also expressed his

 4  gratitude for what he sees as "the God-given opportunity to

 5  help somebody," NOW, THEREFORE,

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 7  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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 9         That Dale Walker is recognized for his remarkable

10  courage and heroism and for his deep and exemplary compassion.

11         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,

12  with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Dale

13  Walker as a token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.

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