Delico P. Streeter saved Margaret M.; Karen Ann; and George S. Coffey, and Francis J. Adams from drowning, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, November 20, 1951. At night in heavy fog a sedan in which Mrs. Coffey, 29, her five children, and Adams, 33, aluminum tapper, were riding plunged into Lake Coeur d’Alene from a highway and sank in cold water 30 feet deep. George, 3, who wore a buoyant jacket, was thrust outside the sedan by his mother; and they and four of the others rose to the surface at scattered points in deep water. Adams was unconscious. Another son swam to the bank. Streeter, 33, clerk, alighted from his automobile on the highway, ran sliding 30 feet down the bank to the edge of the water, and dimly sighted the heads of the passengers. Removing only his overcoat, he stepped from the bank and swam 12 feet to Mrs. Coffey. She placed one hand on his head and attempted to lift herself, causing Streeter to submerge. He rose and taking hold of Mrs. Coffey towed her to the bank. Swimming 14 feet from the bank, Streeter reached Adams and towed him to the bank. Streeter swam 20 feet to Karen, who had trod water to stay afloat, and returned to the bank towing her. Peering over the surface, Streeter saw George, 3, and his six-year-old sister, who had been carried 50 feet from the bank. Streeter by then was chilled and winded, but without pausing he began to swim toward George. The driver of another automobile stopped and directed a spotlight on the water. Streeter reached George, who flung his arms around Streeter’s neck but did not impede him seriously. The other driver descended the bank and entered the water. Streeter swam to the bank with George and carried him to the highway as the other man towed the sister to safety. The sedan was raised to the surface two days later, and the body of the other Coffey child was recovered. The Coffeys and Adams had no lasting ill effects. Streeter, who had been in the water 15 minutes, was badly chilled but recovered. 42430-3805
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42430-3805