DeLos Everett Culver, 23, laborer, attempted to save Ronald B. Thrush, 14, schoolboy, from drowning, Addingham, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1943. Ronald broke through ice on Darby Creek into water six and a half feet deep and was submerged, rising 20 feet from the bank. The ice was honeycombed and covered with slush. From the opposite bank Culver, who had only one arm, ran 30 feet toward Ronald and fell. The ice broke from him to Ronald, and he was submerged. He pushed against the bottom and rose five feet from Ronald, who was submerged. Culver swam to Ronald and pulled him to the surface. Supporting himself by resting his head against the ice, he held Ronald’s head above the water, becoming nearly numb from cold. Ronald swung his arms and kicked. The ice broke under Culver’s head, and he and Ronald drifted under the ice. Releasing Ronald, Culver swam back to open water, rose to the surface, and got hold of the edge of the ice. Finally a man walked on the ice and threw one end of a clothesline to Culver, who wrapped the line around his hand; and he was pulled to wadable water, the ice breaking under him. He waded to the bank and was nearly exhausted. Ronald was drowned. 39863-3331
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