[Tax-chick]

A male clung onto a ladder on the side of pier to try and assist the women, police said.

Why are the people in the water "women" but the one attempting to help them "a male"? Was it not a male human, or, as we used to say, "a man"?

And what are these people doing near the water if none of them can swim?!

[metmom]

A passerby -- Rebecca Van Zant of Mishawaka, Ind. -- jumped into the water and was able to keep Miller afloat until rescue personnel arrived. A male clung onto a ladder on the side of pier to try and assist the women, police said.

Forget that for a minute, (although you are 100% correct), where the heck was her HUSBAND in all this? Watching her drown?

Besides, you are right, it was a MAN who came to her rescue. Obviously not her husband who would only qualify as a *male* in this story.

I wonder if he has an insurance policy out on her?