Earnest Bleach attempted to save James W. Hitch from drowning, Savannah, Georgia, June 30, 1989. While swimming in the Skidaway River, James, 9, was carried away from his raft by an outgoing tide. As James attempted to swim against the current back to the raft, Bleach, 23, lawn maintenance man, who was working nearby, entered the water and began to swim toward James. En route, Bleach struggled against the current, called for help, and submerged. A man in a rowboat retrieved James and Bleach and took them to safety. Bleach was hospitalized two days for having nearly drowned, and he recovered.
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