Harry Hector Zayas, 33, railroad patrolman, saved Carlos Ortiz, about 21, from drowning, New York, New York, July 2, 1968. Ortiz was swimming in the Harlem River and got into trouble. The shouts of persons in the area attracted Zayas, who saw Ortiz making weak arm motions while submerging intermittently 75 feet from the bank. Fully clothed, Zayas waded and swam across the fairly strong current to where Ortiz then was inert and floating face down in water 35 feet deep. Drawing Ortiz onto his back, Zayas began towing him. toward the bank, swimming at an angle because of the current. By the time he had reached the bank with Ortiz after towing him about 100 feet, Zayas was tired. After being revived and treated, Ortiz recovered.
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