THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240319
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 57 lines
On a warm late afternoon in June, Mark and Carol Radabaugh took their sons, Eric and Alex, for a stroll and bike ride around the picturesque lake in their Kempsville neighborhood.
The parents had no way of knowing that danger lurked just around the bend.
As the boys rode ahead, 3-year-old Alex, who was riding a bike with training wheels, swerved off the path and down toward the lake. When he hit the water, he tumbled off his bike and sank in almost five feet of water.
All Eric could see was the top of Alex's helmet.
Eric, 8, knew he could swim and his brother couldn't. But he wasn't thinking about his safety as he jumped off his bike, tore off his helmet and plunged into the lake.
Maybe the helmet kept the younger boy afloat as he struggled for air. Eric got to him, his feet just scraping the bottom of the lake, and dragged him to shore.
By the time their father reached them, Eric had Alex in his arms. ``Dad, please take Alex,'' the boy said.
Alex was fine. He was not submerged long enough to be anything but a little wet and frightened.
Tonight at a Special National Council meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, Eric will receive the National Award of Merit Medal for saving his brother's life.
``I didn't care about myself,'' Eric said Wednesday, sitting on the grass beside Alex next to their Kempsville Lakes home. ``I just thought about my little brother.''
``He catched me and got me up,'' said Alex, giving his brother a friendly punch.
``Alex, stop,'' Eric said.
``My shoes were all wet,'' Alex added, laughing.
Eric is a Cub Scout who wears bobcat, wolf and bear patches. His belt is decorated with awards for art, geography, bowling, baseball, swimming, volleyball, marbles, ultimate Frisbee and inline skating.
But the Award of Merit badge probably will be his proudest.
Scouting runs in the family. Carol, a homemaker, is a den leader. Mark went all the way through the program to Eagle Scout.
``I want to be an Eagle Scout, too,'' said Eric. ``Then I can use some of Dad's stuff.''
The award ceremony at Point O'View Elementary School will be a highlight of the family's three years in Virginia Beach. Mark, a Navy radioman first class, is being transferred to Naples, Italy, and the Radabaughs are packing to leave in two weeks.
Does Eric know any Italian?
``Pizza,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Eric Radabaugh, left, was being a good brother when he jumped into a
Kempsville lake and saved Alex, at right, from drowning.
KEYWORDS: HERO RESCUE by CNB