THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050552
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Jeffrey M. Spruill, a young sailor who died last year trying to save a drowning man in the Chesapeake Bay, won a prestigious national heroism award Thursday, the Carnegie Medal.
On the same day, his parents also settled a civil lawsuit that accused two marine companies of causing their son's death.
Spruill, of Norfolk, was one of 17 heroes, including three who died in rescue efforts, honored Thursday by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
His parents, Betty and Rodger Spruill Sr. of Norfolk, will receive a $2,500 grant.
Since 1909, the Pittsburgh-based commission has honored 7,915 individuals and awarded $21.2 million in grants, scholarships, death benefits and continuing assistance.
``We're very proud of the fact that these people have recognized Jeff's efforts,'' Rodger Spruill said. ``Jeff was a fine person, a fine son. If I could have another one, it would be exactly like him. He was the tops.''
Jeffrey Spruill, 20, was working as a mate for Jack's Launch Service of Virginia Beach when he died on Jan. 26, 1994.
His boat, the launch Cape Hatteras, was ferrying six passengers from Lynnhaven Inlet to a Greek collier anchored near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
It was 1:35 a.m. when a passenger tried to board the Greek ship from the launch. The man lost his balance and fell from a ladder into the Bay's 42-degree water.
Spruill threw the man a life ring, then another, then an oar, then a fuel stick. Finally, Spruill dived in to rescue the man. Spruill managed to grab the man, but, after a few minutes in the cold water, both succumbed to hypothermia and exhaustion.
The Coast Guard honored Spruill with the Gold Lifesaving Medal in September. Only 656 people have received the award in 120 years.
``How easy it would have been,'' Rep. Owen B. Pickett said of Spruill at the Coast Guard award ceremony, ``when his distressed fellow seaman failed to grasp the lifelines thrown to him, for Jeffrey to have said, `I tried. I did all I could.' But that wasn't Jeffrey's way.''
The Spruill family later sued the launch service, saying it gave their son insufficient equipment and training, and the Greek shipping company, saying it had a faulty ladder.
The lawsuit sought $3 million in damages. Terms of the settlement were not available Thursday, said the family's attorneys, Daniel Dickenson and Melvin Radin.
``Jeff didn't cause his own drowning,'' Rodger Spruill said. ``It was the cause of people who were not trained in rescue operations.''
As part of the settlement, the launch service will train its crewmen in lifesaving techniques and require them to wear life vests.
``This is the point we were hoping to impress upon all launch services and boaters in the area,'' Rodger Spruill said. ``It's a necessity. It's a must.''
The family will use part of the settlement money to create a memorial for Jeffrey Spruill and other seaman lost at sea. ``We don't want our son to be forgotten,'' Rodger Spruill said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Jeffrey M. Spruill was honored Thursday as one of 17 recipients of
the Carnegie Medal, a national heroism award.
KEYWORDS: HEROES RESCUES FATALITY by CNB