Laureat Veilleux saved Raymonde T. Larrivee from drowning, Riviere Trois Pistoles, Quebec, June 18, 1961. While swimming in the Trois Pistoles River, Mrs. Larrivee, 26, was carried by the current into a deep pool with a strong eddy, where she floundered and screamed for help. Her husband, who could not swim, entered the water and attempted to aid her. Both were submerged intermittently. Veilleux, 20, planing mill hand, and Jean-Paul Levesque, who were somewhat tired from swimming, ran 75 and entered the pool which was 40 feet wide. Veilleux swam 35 feet and in water 20 feet deep reached Mrs. Larrivee, who was badly dazed. She grasped his wrist with one hand and his forearm with the other. Both were submerged briefly and swallowed water. Mrs. Larrivee maintained her holds on Veilleux, who had to use force to free himself. Meanwhile Larrivee had lost consciousness, and only his hand or the top of his head appeared occasionally at the surface. Levesque swam 55 feet in the eddy to where he last had seen Larrivee’s hand and dived straight down. He found Larrivee, grasped him by the hair, and surfaced with him as they were carried toward rapids downstream. Levesque towed Larrivee 50 feet to the bank as Veilleux obtained a hold on Mrs. Larrivee and did likewise. All recovered.
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