Clyde E. Smith saved Elisabeth A. Burrows from drowning, Ursina, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1989. Miss Burrows, 24, was driving on a rural road at night when an ice jam on swollen Laurel Hill Creek broke, causing the creek to flood the road and part of an adjacent field. Miss Burrows exited her car to wade to dry land, but a strong current forced her to return to it. She called for help. Watching the floodwaters from about 600 feet away, Smith, 36, welder, heard Miss Burrows, and, despite freezing air temperature and the cold, swift water of the creek, which contained large chunks of ice, he waded to Miss Burrows’s car. He helped her down from the car, then guided her to dry land. Both recovered from effects of the cold water.
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