'You're Not Going to Die Tonight'

A homeless man gave Slaughter his blanket, wrapping him in it, Dean said.

While Dean focused on helping Slaughter into an ambulance, Lipscomb and the others walked away.

Police were looking for the men yesterday so they could thank them. Dean said the three told officers that they had been staying in a nearby shelter, but Dean said they were not there yesterday.

"[Lipscomb] is the person who actually did the greatest deed. Everybody else was just helping out," Dean said. "We don't know where he is. Maybe he went to a different shelter."

Lt. Paul Niepling, harbor master for D.C. police, said he wants to give Lipscomb an award, "if we can find him."

Slaughter said last night that he was feeling much better and was hoping to be released from the hospital soon. Doctors were monitoring him to make sure the hypothermia had not caused kidney damage, he said.

"I don't think I've ever shook so much in my life," said Slaughter, who grew up around water and was a bass fisherman in Charleston, S.C. For the past two years, he has been living in Washington and helping his brother, Eric, with his yacht company.

William Slaughter said it was the first time he had ever been in danger of drowning.

"It was a bad set of circumstances with the ice, cold water and the heavy coat," he said.

Eric Slaughter said that his brother had mentioned to him that his new shoes were slippery, but he had no idea they could endanger his life.

The brothers said they were still in shock, absorbing Monday night's events.

"It was a miracle that those guys would come over the fence to help," William Slaughter said. "It was a miracle that they were even there."

Staff writers Keith L. Alexander and Allan Lengel contributed to this report.