J. K. Eric George, 26, railroad rodman, saved Keith F. Nolan, 3, from drowning, Peterborough, Ontario, February 23, 1953. While playing, Keith fell from a shelf of ice bordering the bank of the Otonabee River near a bridge and drifted face downward in very cold water eight feet deep 70 feet from the bank. George was attracted and ran across the bridge to an island 130 feet from the bank. Removing his jacket, shirt, and boots, he stepped onto the ice, which broke under him, and fell into the water. He then swam breaking ice for 45 feet to open water. Continuing 45 feet across the current, George overtook Keith, who had drifted 230 feet and was inert, and lifted the boy’s face from the water. He retraced his course to the edge of the ice towing Keith. Pushing ice fragments ahead of him as he swam, George worked his way back in the path he had made. When he was within eight feet of the island, he tried to stand but was unable to gain firm footing on the irregular rocky bottom. A man who waded five feet from the island extended a hand to George and aided him and Keith from the water. Keith was revived. George was badly chilled and suffered a severe cold and lacerations of the arms and chest but recovered. 3877-42816
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