John J. O'neill, Sr.

John J. O’Neill, Sr., 46, road maintenance man, saved Anna Schulz, 41, waitress, from drowning, Yonkers, New York, May 5, 1954. Mrs. Schulz fell from the Yonkers City Pier into water 10 feet deep in the Hudson River. O’Neill and two other men at a garage 250 feet from the pier were attracted. Running to the pier, O’Neill, who had been advised by a physician to avoid exertion, climbed over the railing and ran along the ledge as the other men went to obtain a ladder. Another man arrived with a rope which he tossed toward Mrs. Schulz, who was unable to grasp it. Breathing heavily from running, O’Neill removed his shoes and prepared to enter the water. The man with the rope warned him not to do so because of his health, but O’Neill jumped into the water 14 feet below. He rose and swam 10 feet to Mrs. Schulz, who was submerged but moving sporadically. Allowing himself to submerge, O’Neill grasped Mrs. Schulz about the waist and brought her to the surface. He towed her 12 feet to the nearest support of the pier, where a ladder had been lowered. A man, who had descended the ladder while another man held it, carried Mrs. Schulz to the top of the pier and then assisted O’Neill up the ladder to safety. Firemen revived Mrs. Schulz, who was removed to a hospital and treated for shock and exposure. O’Neill also was taken to a hospital for similar treatment. Both recovered.