Gary Lee Castellan, 14, schoolboy, saved Michael R. Murphy, 14, schoolboy, from drowning, Tionesta, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1965. In the Allegheny River a canoe containing Michael and Gary was swept against an anchored dredge and overturned, throwing the boys into deep water 20 feet from the bank. A strong suction drew them under the dredge, but Gary swam from beneath it and climbed onto its platform. Michael appeared alongside the dredge and called for help before being drawn under again. He then surfaced at the other side of a tugboat moored to the dredge and drifted downstream and farther from the bank. Gary jumped into the water and swam to Michael, who meanwhile had been submerged briefly twice and had swallowed some water. Avoiding Michael’s flailing arms, Gary took hold of him. Michael continued to squirm and kick, and Gary lost his glasses. As they were carried farther downstream, Michael became inert. Tiring rapidly, Gary towed Michael 30 feet diagonally across the current to within 20 feet of an island at mid- stream. By then almost exhausted, he called for assistance from two men on the island. One man waded and swam to them and relieved Gary of Michael. Gary followed as the man took Michael to the island, where he revived.
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