Morris Wilford Mills saved Virginia J. Marek from drowning, New Braunfels, Texas, February 1, 1964. At night the two-door sedan in which Miss Marek, 25, and a young man were riding dropped 60 feet over a vertical bank of the Guadalupe River into water 12 feet deep. Miss Marek suffered a broken arm and, in shock, remained in her seat as the automobile sank to the bottom 10 feet from the bank. The young man rolled down the window on the left side, climbed out, and stood atop the submerged sedan in water to his chin. Mills, 43, yarn hauler, was fishing from the opposite bank and witnessed the accident. Another fisherman joined him with a lantern, by the light of which they saw the driver and learned from him that a girl still was inside the automobile. Although he was not in good health, Mills undressed to his trousers and swam 40 feet in the cold water to the sedan. Submerging himself at the right side, he opened the door with some difficulty and found Miss Marek on the seat. Mills reached into the sedan, which was filled with water to within three inches of the roof, and took hold of her. She was in pain and resisted his aid, impeding him somewhat as he pulled her from the automobile. By placing one foot on the edge of the seat, Mills obtained enough leverage to push Miss Marek and himself to the surface. Both stood atop the sunken sedan until two men arrived in a boat and took Miss Marek and the young man aboard. Mills swam ahead of the boat as he returned to the bank.
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