John F. Dowling, 42, city fireman, saved Paul A. Nadeau, 7, from drowning, Lowell, Massachusetts, April 20, 1951. Paul fell from the bank into water 20 feet deep in Northern Canal and drifted in a current of two m.p.h. 30 feet from the bank, which rose vertically from the water. The water was very cold. Dowling who was walking near by while off duty, was attracted. Removing his shoes and coat, Dowling, who had swum little for 10 years, jumped from a ledge 10 feet above the water, was submerged briefly, and swam to Paul, who was a foot below the surface. Treading water, he grasped Paul by the hair, raised his head, and towed him as he swam 100 feet with the current and then with great effort 35 feet across it to the bank, where be got hold of a sapling a foot above the water. Holding to the sapling with one hand and supporting Paul with his other arm, he called for help. Firemen and others arrived, and a man who was a good swimmer jumped into the water, rose beside Dowling, took Paul from him, and by holding to slight projections of rock, worked his way to a lower part of the bank, where he lifted Paul up to a fireman on the bank and then climbed out. Meanwhile a rope was lowered to Dowling. After much effort, his hands being numb from cold, Dowling tied the rope to himself and was pulled to the to the bank. Paul and Dowling were removed to a hospital. Dowling suffered from fatigue and nervous shock and was disabled five days. Paul was ill for a week but recovered. 42250-3733
42250 – 3733
42250-3733