Gary P. Donnaud, 14, schoolboy, helped to save Kevin M. Friloux, 14, schoolboy, from drowning, Boutte, Louisiana, March 6, 1965. Kevin, fully clothed, took a seated position on a floating drum at the bank of a drainage canal but was submerged when the drum rolled and dumped him into the water. He surfaced, found he could not stand, and attempted to climb onto the drum, which moved toward midstream. Kevin was submerged again in water nine feet deep 18 feet from the bank and, finding his water-soaked attire too great a handicap, called for help. Gary removed his jacket and waded and swam to near Kevin, who had been submerged briefly again. Kevin lunged at Gary and grasped him tightly around the neck, causing both to be submerged. Gary broke away and surfaced, gasping for breath. Ronald L. Smith removed his coat and shoes and entered the water. He waded and swam to Gary as Kevin surfaced near him, flailing wildly. Ronald pushed Gary toward the bank. His thrust moved Gary six feet so that he was able to grasp the overhanging limb of a tree and make his way along it to the bank. Ronald meanwhile had taken hold of Kevin, who was nearly exhausted, and towed him 16 feet to the bank. All recovered
49266 – 5248
49266-5248