Metro Wrobel

Metro Wrobel attempted to save John W. Kowal, Jr., and Theodore Smith from drowning, Wallington, New Jersey, February 25, 1947. John, 10, Theodore, 11, and another boy broke through ice on the Passaic River into water 13 feet deep 100 feet from the bank. Wrobel, 31, laborer, ran 800 feet to the ice and lying prone on it pulled himself to a point 45 feet from the bank and then broke through but climbed out. He pulled himself 30 feet more and again broke through. Breaking ice ahead of him, he swam 17 feet to within 10 feet of John and Theodore, the other boy having drowned. At the request of John, who said he feared they would be dislodged if the ice gave way, Wrobel did not advance closer. A ring life-preserver tied to a rope was thrown into the water 10 feet from Wrobel, and he swam to it and with it to his former position. He tried twice but could not push the preserver to the boys because his right arm and hand were growing numb, and the weight of the rope in the water pulled the preserver back. A board 10 feet long was slid into the water 10 feet from him, and he swam to it and with it to the preserver. With great effort he maneuvered an end of the board onto the ice and, after failing to push the preserver with it, worked it to John. Neither boy took hold of the board. Firemen extended a ladder on the ice to within 10 feet of the boys, but they suddenly sank. Wrobel probed with his legs and an arm under water but did not touch them, and they were drowned. Feeling weak, he hooked an arm in the preserver and lost consciousness. Firemen pulled him to them, and he was carried out. He suffered shock and a frozen arm; and his back and legs were numbed. He was disabled for 10 weeks.