Kenneth W. Ely rescued Ollis A. Bryant from a cave-in, Parrish, Alabama, October 11, 1977. When a cave-in occurred in a coal mine, Bryant, 46, was pinned beneath a huge stab of shale and sandstone that was propped up slightly at one side by reason of its resting on a low machine. Ely, 29, federal coal mine inspector, wriggled under the stab and, by moving debris and digging into the clay floor, created a crawl space to the machine, alongside which Bryant was trapped. After freeing Bryant from the debris around him, Ely drew him into the crawl space. Workers pulled Ely by the feet as he in turn pulled on Bryant. In that manner both men were drawn from beneath the stab.
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