In the afternoon of 5 September 1982, Robert Taron rescued an eleven-year-old boy from drowning at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. The boy and two friends were playing in knee-deep surf when a huge swell swept him out to sea where he floundered, caught in a rip-tide. When told of the boy's struggles, Mr. Taron though inexperienced in life-saving techniques, hurried to the shore and entered the treacherous waters, which are well known for cold temperatures, strong currents, and high surf. He swam several hundred metres to the child, calmed the panic-stricken boy, then took him on his back and in spite of a strong current brought him safely to the shore.