Charles R. Stewart, III

Charles R. Stewart III helped to save Edwin L. Keller III from drowning, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, September 18, 2004. While retrieving a football, Edwin, 12, fell into the rain-swollen Stoneycreek River, which at the scene flowed through a flood-control channel having sloped, concrete banks. He was swept downstream by the very swift current. Stewart, 32, disabled dockworker, was crossing a nearby bridge when he saw Edwin in the water. He immediately ran to a point on the nearer bank opposite Edwin and, removing his shoes, slid down the channel wall and into the river. Stewart swam to Edwin, who climbed on his back, then attempted to return to the wall. The current washed them farther out into the river and about 900 feet downstream, or to the point at which Stewart grasped the branches of a small tree growing from the riverbed. They remained at the tree until arriving firefighters threw a line to them, pulled them back to the bank, and aided them up the wall. Both Edwin and Stewart were taken to the hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia, and Stewart for a cut to his foot. They recovered.