Ottawa County man lauded for rescuing girl in pond

9/17/2005

SANDUSKY An Ottawa County man was honored yesterday by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for saving a 3-year-old girl from drowning in a pond at a neighbor s house three months ago.

Don Christie, who lives on Schiller Road in Benton Township, received the Award of Valor from ODNR s Division of Watercraft for rescuing Katie Shadoan, 3, from a 16-foot-deep pond on June 22.

The girl had been riding in a canoe with her grandfather, Wayne Shadoan, 65, in the backyard pond when the craft flipped, dumping them into the water.

Mr. Christie, who saw the boat tip over, dove into the pond and pulled Katie to safety, but he could not get back to the boat in time to save Mr. Shadoan, who drowned.

Mr. Christie was given the award at Cedar Point Marina during the North American In-Water Sail and Power Boat Show.