James David Zimny, Jr., died attempting to save Michael W. and John H. Webb, Jr., from drowning, Newport Heights, Delaware, August 10, 1964. While unhooking a fish, a 15-year-old boy accidentally knocked John, 13, from a pier into water 10 feet deep in the Christina River. Michael, 14, jumped in to aid his brother, a poor swimmer. Both boys got into trouble and were carried downstream 75 feet from the bank. The other boy swam 30 feet to John and Michael, who struggled with him. He broke away and began to swim back to the pier. A 17-year-old youth swam from the pier to the 15 -year-old boy who was having difficulty and towed him 15 feet to the pier. The youth then swam 90 feet to near John and Michael, who sank. After making two unsuccessful surface dives for Michael in the muddy water and noting that John also had sunk, the youth swam to the bank. Zimny, 47, construction superintendent, arrived and saw that John and Michael had returned to the surface. Undressing to his underwear, Zimny entered the water and swam toward the boys as they drifted downstream. After swimming 100 feet, Zimny called for help. Others who had arrived went to a projection of the bank as Zimny reached a point 30 feet from it. He was 30 feet from John and Michael when they sank again, remaining submerged. Zimny swam 10 feet toward the bank and sank. His inert body rose to the surface and was drawn to the bank by men extending a long pole. He could not be revived. The bodies of John and Michael later were recovered.
47444 – 4873
47444-4873