James A. Di Giacomo helped to save Leland D. Saint from drowning, Waterloo, Iowa, April 10, 1968. Saint, 60, laborer, a poor swimmer, was knocked off a barge in the Cedar River and was submerged briefly in water 10 feet deep 40 feet from the bank. Di Giacomo, 29, laborer, dived from the drifting barge, swam to Saint and took hold of him. Saint’s flailing caused them to be submerged briefly. After calming him, Di Giacomo supported Saint, who outweighed him by 40 pounds. Feeling himself tiring, Di Giacomo called for assistance. Another man on the barge, which then was 25 feet from Di Giacomo, threw a rope to him. The man then lost his hold on the rope, and it fell into the water. While the rope was being retrieved, Saint struggled with Di Giacomo and broke away from him. Di Giacomo, fatigued from his efforts, clung to the rope; and Saint grasped the back of Di giacomo’s jacket. With Di Giacomo then supporting Saint with one arm, they were pulled to the barge and removed from the water.
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