Homer E. Terrill, 66 retired test supervisor, saved Virginia E. Sergison, 12, schoolgirl, from drowning, Pinckney, Michigan, August 3, 1955. While bathing in Lake Portage, Virginia, a poor swimmer, was submerged briefly in unwadable water and called for help from her aunt and her cousin, 15, both poor swimmers. When she tried to reach an inflated inner-tube which her aunt had thrown toward her, Virginia floundered into water 12 feet deep 130 feet from the nearest bank and was submerged again. The others then called for help, attracting Terrill and another man who were in a boat nearby. Knowing that the other man was a poor swimmer, Terrill dived from the boat into the water, although he had swum very little for two years because of a heart condition. Terrill swam 15 feet to Virginia, where he made a surface dive and brought Virginia to the surface. Virginia then threw her arms around Terrill’s waist, pinning his arms. Terrill and Virginia were submerged briefly twice before Terrill was able to free himself. Virginia continued to struggle as Terrill, who was tiring rapidly and felt a pain in the back of his head, towed her 30 feet to wadable water. Virginia then was aided to the bank by her cousin. Terrill barely was able to stand, and Virginia’s aunt helped him to wade to safety. Virginia suffered no lasting ill effects. Terrill had injured a nerve and an artery in his head but recovered completely in three weeks. 43588-4083
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