James Michael Casey saved Walter C. Sparks from drowning, Iron Mountain, Michigan, August 10, 1961. When Walter, 11, and a 13 year-old boy, both poor swimmers, attempted to swim to a raft anchored 100 feet from the bank in Bass Lake, Walter experienced leg cramps and floundered in water 10 feet deep. The other boy reached the raft and, too fatigued to go to his aid, called loudly for help. Undressing to his undershorts along the way, James, 10, schoolboy, ran 460 feet to the end of a pier 47 feet from Walter, who was alternately rising and sinking. Although tired and badly winded, James dived into the lake and swam to where Walter by then had sunk erect to three feet beneath the surface. James submerged and grasped the wrist of Walter, who had lost consciousness. Maintaining his hold, he surfaced and with difficulty towed Walter 18 feet to the raft. The other boy aided James in lifting Walter onto the raft. James then swam 100 feet to the bank and ran to get help. Walter and the other boy were brought to the bank in a boat. Walter was revived and recovered.
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