At about the same time Patrick Patterson, a “river surfer”, was using a board tethered to the NC 217 highway bridge over the Cape Fear River in Eastern North Carolina. After the rope broke unexpectedly, Patterson attempted to stand in the current and caught his leg on an obstruction. His friends tried to reach him quickly; but were not successful. David Wormaldi, a boy scout leader, then entered the river and tied a rope under Patterson’s arms. He then “treaded water” for over an hour to support Patterson until rescuers arrived.