DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710240787

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   20 lines

HE'S A LIFESAVER

The U.S. Coast Guard Silver Lifesaving Medal adorns the lapel of

Joseph J. Brisson, above. Brisson received the medal for saving the

life of Cornell Taylor, sitting on the left with his family in photo

at left, last December. Taylor, a bridge worker, had been struck by

a car and knocked off an I-64 bridge. Brisson, piloting a tug that

was moored under the bridge, dove into the frigid water to rescue

Taylor. His crew then tried to get a life preserver to Brisson, but

the current swept the two men downstream. The two were rescued about

20 minutes later after the tug sent a crew out in a skiff. Brisson

then used first aid to keep Taylor alive. The award was presented to

Brisson Thursday during a ceremony at Nauticus.

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