Blanche Evelyn Sutton, 49, housewife, saved David K. Bennett, 4, from drowning, Bend, Oregon, January 20, 1959. David, who could not swim, fell into Deschutes River fully clothed, was submerged briefly, and then was carried downstream by the strong current. There was no wadable water in the river, the bed and banks of which were strewn with boulders. Mrs. Sutton was attracted from her home nearby and ran 50 feet to the river, removing one shoe as she ran. Although she had swum infrequently for 20 years, she dived into the near freezing water without delaying to remove her other shoe or any additional clothing. Mrs. Sutton surfaced 15 feet from the bank and immediately lunged toward David, who then was five feet farther from the bank in water eight feet deep. She took hold of David, who flailed his arms. Maintaining her hold, Mrs. Sutton began towing David back to the bank but was impeded by her wet clothing and could progress only very slowly across the strong current carrying them downstream. By persistent effort Mrs. Sutton moved steadily toward the bank, reaching it with David after swimming 200 feet. Both recovered from effects of the cold water. 44612-4357
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