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American Masters
Duke's incredible rescue mission while on a surfboard
On June 14, 1925, the Thelma boat was capsized in Newport Beach, California. Duke Kahanamoku heroically rescued eight of the men on the boat, and recovered the bodies of the many others who perished. "Duke saw people suffering and struggling and said, 'I can do something.' He just assumed responsibility, and jumped right in the water."
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