Teacher Saves Students, Sacrifices His Own Life

You read a lot about the crazy and foolish antics of unfortunate employees, but every once in awhile a real hero comes along. Such is the case of Paul Simpson, a 40-year-old Australian high school teacher who sacrificed his own life while working to pull five students out of a ferocious undertow during a school snorkeling trip on Surf Coast Beach in Victoria. He suffered a heart attack in the water after seeing his students to safety.

The basketball coach/biology teacher was overseeing the activity, which involved 15 students and two other teachers from Shelford Girls' Grammar School. First a freak wave swamped part of the group, then they were dragged into deep water and pounded by swells caused by a violent rip tide.