Clyde E. Nicholson saved George T. McIntosh from drowning, Talihina, Oklahoma, January 9. 1962. While crossing a snow-covered pasture at dusk in near-zero temperature, McIntosh, 42, laborer, unknowingly moved onto a pond and broke through the ice into water eight feet deep. He was submerged briefly and attempted to climb out, but the ice broke off, enlarging the hole to five feet in diameter. With his heavy attire water-soaked and his limbs becoming numb, he clung to the edge of the hole and called for help. Nicholson, 47, service station proprietor, and another man were attracted and saw McIntosh submerging intermittently in the hole in the ice. Nicholson jumped onto the ice of the pond without delaying to remove his boots or other heavy clothing. Breaking the ice ahead of him with much difficulty, Nicholson waded and swam 20 feet from the bank. Only McIntosh’s hand then was at the surface, and Nicholson grasped him by the wrist. His efforts to lift McIntosh caused Nicholson to be submerged. Maintaining his hold, he sank to the bottom and then surfaced with McIntosh. Nicholson towed McIntosh 15 feet back through the path broken in the ice. Securing footing in wadable water, he thrust McIntosh to within reach of the other man. Between them they raised McIntosh onto the bank and took him to a nearby dwelling. McIntosh and Nicholson recovered from effects of the cold water.
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