D. Paul Rich helped to save Jay J. Curley from drowning, Wakefield, Massachusetts, February 1, 1956. While skating on Quannapowitt Lake, Jay, 14, broke through the ice 315 feet from the nearest bank into water 15 feet deep in a hole 10 feet in diameter. Each time he attempted to climb out, the ice broke off, and the hole was enlarged to 20 feet. Jay then clung to the edge of the ice and called for help. His cries attracted Rich, 19, student, and several other young men, all of whom were playing hockey 900 feet away. The young men skated to near the hole. Two of them crawled to within a foot of the edge and extended their hockey sticks to Jay, who then was treading water 18 inches from the edge. He grasped one stick in each hand. In a prone position between the two rescuers, Rich helped one of them hold his hockey stick while another young man held to that rescuer’s skates. As they prepared to pull Jay from the water, a section of ice 12 feet wide crumbled beneath them, immersing them in the enlarged hole. Rich was submerged twice but reached the ice and climbed out unaided, and the three other rescuers also made it to safety. Rich and two of the others then extended a 12-foot board obtained from the bank to Jay, who grasped it and was pulled onto the ice. Firemen arrived as the young men reached the bank safely. Jay, who was treated for shock and immersion, recovered. Rich suffered no lasting ill effects. 43780-4077
43780 – 4077
43780-4077