James J. J. Rouse saved Leslie Semmler from drowning, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, July 20, 1983. Leslie, 2, was in the cab of a pickup truck that rolled into the Mackenzie River, East Channel, and submerged in water 10 feet deep. On arriving at the scene, Rouse, 36, police officer, entered the river and swam about 100 feet to the vicinity of the truck. Despite having virtually no visibility in the muddy water, Rouse dived and entered the cab of the truck. On a second dive, he found Leslie floating near the ceiling of the cab and pulled him from the truck. They surfaced, and Leslie, who was unconscious, was taken to the hospital, where he was revived. He fully recovered.
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