Former Danish politician dies saving US mayor

Retired principal Svend Hill-Madsen hailed a hero

Mar 6, 2015

Svend Hill-Madsen, a former councillor at Hadsund Municipality in Jutland, lost his life on Sunday while on holiday on the Caribbean island of Saint Croix after attempting to rescue another tourist from rough seas.

Hill-Madsen, 70, drowned after jumping into the sea to aid Tedd Wallace – the mayor of South Lyon, Michigan – when the American called for help after being swept away by a riptide while boogie boarding. Wallace was then rescued by a second man, who was climbing on nearby rocks.

”They're both heroes,” Wallace told St Croix Avis newspaper. ”I knew I was in trouble and I yelled out. And this wonderful Danish man headed for me immediately. He helped for a couple kicks and then, all of a sudden, he just went under. I don't know if he had a medical condition or something, or what.”

READ MORE: Dane found dead in Thailand

Educator and politician
Hill-Madsen was a retired principal at Randers Statskole gymnasium where he taught history, religious studies and classical civilization for 38 years.

In 1968, he became politically involved in local Venstre activities and was elected to Hadsund Municipality in 1993 – a position he remained in until 2000.

During that time he was a candidate for mayor of the town.

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