George Motza, Jr., died helping to save Ross W. Thomas from drowning, Oxford, Ohio, June 2, 1996. Wading atop a submerged spillway at Acton Lake, Ross, 4, and his half brother entered a pool of deep water in Fourmile Creek. They floundered there. Fishing from the bank of the pool, Motza, 34, laborer, entered the water and swam to Ross. He took Ross from a boy who was attempting a rescue, and, with Ross positioned on Motza’s back, moved downstream with the current. Another man who was fishing from the bank entered the water and swam to them. He established a hold on Ross, but Motza had submerged. The fisherman took Ross to wadable water and safety. Motza could not be located immediately. His body was recovered from the pool several hours later; he had drowned.
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