John M. Garrett saved Marcus D. Redfern from drowning, Butte, Montana, April 14, 1962. Marcus, 10, who could not swim, fell into a creek 30 feet wide and was submerged intermittently as he flailed wildly, his actions carrying him to midstream where the water was six feet deep. John, 13, schoolboy, a poor swimmer, jumped into the creek fully clothed and swam to Marcus. Submerging in the muddy water, he took hold of Marcus around the hips. Pushing against the creek bottom, he moved five feet toward the bank with Marcus. The latter pushed against, John with his feet and advanced five feet farther. Two boys on the bank extended a baseball bat to Marcus and drew him out of the water. John meanwhile was floundering. His actions carried him to midstream, where he sank. A young man entered the creek from the opposite bank, swam to where John had sunk, and located him by probing with his feet. Submerging, the man took hold of John, who was inert, surfaced with him, and began towing him toward the bank. Another man entered the creek and aided in removing John from the water. John was revived and recovered.
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