Leo M. O’Hara, 25, bricklayer, saved August P. Buyck, 53, machinist, from drowning, Paterson, New Jersey, January 30, 1954. A two?door sedan Buyck was driving skidded from a street and plunged into the Passaic River, landing upright on a shelf of ice extending 40 feet from the bank. Under the impact ice gave way in an area 10 to 80 feet wide, and the sedan began submerging in deep water, the front end of the vehicle being 12 feet from the bank. Buyck, who could not swim and was unable to open the doors or roll down the windows, climbed into the rear seat as water began filling the sedan. O’Hara and several other motorists were attracted and descended the bank to a ledge at the water line. Removing only his sweater and shoes, O’Hara dived into the water holding the end of a light 30-foot tow chain, which one of the other men had fastened to a nearby tree. O’Hara swam 20 feet to the left door of the sedan and released the chain, which was pulled to the bank. He tugged repeatedly on the door but could not open it and swam eight feet to the rear of the sedan, which barely was above water. Buyck had squeezed his head into a narrowing air space inside the rear window. Using a heavy wrench thrown to him from the bank, O’Hara broke out part of the window. Buyck, whose face momentarily was submerged, thrust his head and shoulders upward through the opening. O’Hara stood on the trunk, got hold of Buyck, and drew him from the sedan, which sank from beneath them and settled to the bottom. Ascertaining there were no other occupants, O’Hara swam towing Buyck to eight feet from the bank. The chain was thrown within reach of O’Hara, and he and Buyck were pulled onto the bank. Buyck was treated for shock and immersion at a hospital. O’Hara was tired and suffered from exposure. Both recovered. 42119-3947
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