Bruce B. Richmond died helping to save Ronald Green from drowning, Metairie, Louisiana, July 17, 1962. Ronald, 13, a poor swimmer, fell from a floating log and was submerged briefly in water six feet deep 17 feet from the bank of a sand pit about 50 feet wide. Choking from water he had swallowed, he flailed wildly and called for help as the log floated away from him. Bruce, 12, schoolboy, who had chronic bronchitis and was easily winded, swam seven feet to Ronald, who again had been submerged briefly. Ronald grasped Bruce around the neck and then took hold of his shoulders, causing both boys to be submerged. They surfaced with Ronald again grasping Bruce’s neck. Both were coughing and choking. As Bruce tried to break Ronald’s hold, they again were submerged briefly. Bruce broke Ronald’s hold and thrust him two feet toward the bank, enabling Ronald to grasp a tree branch extended by another boy who had waded into the water. As Ronald was drawn to wadable water by means of the branch, Bruce sank and did not reappear. Help was summoned, and Bruce later was located in the deep water and taken to the bank. He could not be revived.
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