Charles E. Gross, 29, caulker, saved La Salle M. Olsen, Jr., 10, from drowning, Paterson, New Jersey, February 14, 1955. La Salle, who could not swim, broke through ice on the Passaic River into deep water 30 feet from the bank. He rose to the surface in a hole three feet in diameter and clung to the edge of the ice. Alighting from a truck, Gross, who was heavily clothed and wore overshoes, slid 50 feet down the steep bank and ran onto the ice, which gave way beneath him 20 feet from the bank. Gross was submerged briefly and swam breaking ice to La Salle. Gross’s overshoes became filled with water, and his head momentarily dipped beneath the surface as he trod water and obtained a hold around La Salle’s chest. He towed La Salle 11 feet along the passage he had made and swam six feet closer to the bank, breaking the ice ahead of him. Gross stood up in water five feet deep 13 feet from the bank, his feet becoming imbedded in deep viscous mud. A man who broke the ice close to the bank waded near Gross, who handed La Salle to him. Assisted by others the man carried La Salle from the water, and Gross freed his feet and waded to the bank. La Salle was treated for shock and exposure at a hospital. Gross was somewhat numbed. Both recovered. 43400-3986
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