George E. Parmentier rescued Lillian I. Rockness from drowning, Lakewood, Washington, April 25, 1948. A rowboat in which Mrs. Rockness, 34, a brother of hers, and another woman were riding on Lake Goodwin swamped in cold, choppy water 15 feet deep, and all were briefly submerged. Mrs. Rockness struggled with her brother while the other woman swam to a raft anchored 10 feet beyond the end of a dock projecting 45 feet from the bank and called for help. Removing his shoes, Parmentier, 42, painter, ran from his cottage to the dock, dived from its end, and swam 65 feet to Mrs. Rockness, whose brother had sunk and did not reappear. Parmentier took hold of her, and she grasped his shirt with her hand, causing him to be briefly submerged. After jerking her hand from his shirt, which she ripped, he turned her around, placed one hand underneath her chin, and got her onto her back. She grasped his wrist with her hands. He swam towing her by the chin hold with great effort 50 feet to the raft, she having become limp. He clung to the raft and supported her while a rowboat was towed alongside the dock and pushed to the raft. Parmentier towed Mrs. Rockness to the stern, to which he clung holding her as they were towed to wadable water, where he was assisted in dragging her to the bank. Mrs. Rockness was dead of a heart attack. Parmentier was very weak and dizzy and suffered violent chills but recovered. 41386-3575
41386 – 3575
41386-3575