Catherine L. Coppock

Catherine L. Coppock, 31, housewife attempted to save Sherman C. Smith, III, 3, from drowning, Cooper Landing, Alaska, February 17, 1954. Sherman, who with two girls wandered onto the ice covering Kenai River, playfully ran to the edge of an opening 50 feet wide in the ice. A projection of thin ice broke off beneath him; and he dropped into water eight feet deep, was submerged briefly, and drifted with his face barely above water. The air temperature was four degrees below zero. Attracted by the screams of the girls, Mrs. Coppock descended a flight of steps to the ice and ran 330 feet to the opening. She dropped prone and drew herself along a narrow projection of thin ice extending eight feet into the water. Unable to reach Sherman, she crawled farther outward on the projection, which suddenly broke off. Mrs. Coppock fell fully clothed into the water and swam eight feet to Sherman, who was inert. She got hold of Sherman, towed him to the edge of the opening, and lifted him out of the water. Ice repeatedly broke off as Mrs. Coppock attempted to climb from the opening. With great effort she finally swung one leg onto the ice and drew herself from the water. Her bare, clenched hands were stiff from cold. She struggled to her feet holding Sherman and ran to the bank, her waterlogged clothing rapidly freezing. A woman relieved her of Sherman and carried him indoors, followed by Mrs. Coppock and the girls. They removed Sherman’s frozen clothing. He was given artificial respiration for an extended period but could not be revived. Mrs. Coppock was badly numbed and suffered from shock but recovered.