Frederick J. Stevens

Frederick J. Stevens, 16, schoolboy, saved Dennis G. Rigby, 10, from drowning, Douglas, Alaska, May 20, 1953. While fishing Dennis fell from a dock 24 feet high 300 feet from shore in Gastineau Channel, and he repeatedly was submerged in cold water 20 feet deep 15 feet from the dock. Frederick, a poor swimmer, ran outside a shrimp cannery shed on the dock and continued to the edge of the dock above Dennis. Removing only a rubber apron and boots, he jumped into the water. He rose and swam five feet to Dennis, who seized him tightly around the neck with both arms. Frederick calmed Dennis, who released his hold and got onto the back of Frederick. Observing that the dock piling afforded no handholds, Frederick tried to tow Dennis toward an anchored float 250 feet away but could make little progress due to his waterlogged clothing. Cannery workers on the dock dropped three empty four-foot wooden boxes into the water near Frederick, who barely could stay afloat supporting Dennis; and he got hold of one box and drew it to him. Two men who reached the float each launched a skiff. They rowed to Dennis and Frederick, lifted them aboard, and removed them to shore. Frederick, who bad been in the water for six minutes, was badly winded; and he and Dennis were chilled. Both recovered.