Jesus R. Santa Cruz, Jr., saved Rene E. Mendoza from suffocation, Van Horn, Texas, March 1, 1966. Rene, 2, walked onto the flimsy covering of a cesspool eight feet square and broke through, falling into waste matter five and a half feet deep a foot below ground level. He sank. His brother summoned his mother and another woman, both of whom began screaming for help. Santa Cruz, 27, mineral assayer, and another man arrived and looked into the cesspool but could see no one. They made the hole large enough for entry. Holding to the other man’s hands, Santa Cruz lowered himself into the cesspool until his feet touched fairly solid material. When he released his hold of the man, he sank up to his neck. Santa Cruz probed with his foot and located Rene, who was unconscious. Holding his breath, Santa Cruz submerged the side of his face to his nose. He lifted Rene to the surface and handed him to the man. Santa Cruz was aided out of the cesspool, choking and gagging. Rene was revived. 48713-5097
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