Albert Russ, 58, electrician, rescued Rom A. Cerruti, 37, electrician, from electric shock, Paso Robles, California, May 21, 1953. Cerruti stopped his auto-truck on the grounds of a school, unaware that a metal scaffold 24 feet high mounted at the rear of the truck had come in contact with a high-tension power line carrying 12,000 volts of electricity. As he alighted and stepped from the left running board, Cerruti was shocked severely, uttered a moan, and fell to the ground unconscious with the heel of one shoe resting on the edge of the running board. Russ jumped clear of the truck from the cargo compartment and ran to within three feet of the running board. Squatting alongside Cerruti, he extended his arms and slapped hard at Cerruti’s ankle with both hands, knocking his foot free of the truck. Russ, who was shocked and toppled backward, got to his feet and dragged Cerruti a safe distance from the truck. Cerruti, who sustained severe burns, revived. He was hospitalized two months. Russ suffered burns of the hand and foot, which healed. 43071-3925
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