Namon Campbell attempted to save James Huff from drowning, Yerkes, Kentucky, September 14, 1951. A two-door sedan in which James, 4, and his parents and uncle were riding plunged from a road into the North Fork of the Kentucky River and sank in an upright position in deep water 12 feet from the bank. A door of the vehicle was torn off. James was thrown to the floor and lay wedged beneath the front seat. His parents and uncle escaped through the open doorway, and James’s mother swam to bank. The father and uncle who were poor swimmers, stood in waist-deep water on the roof. Campbell, 26, welder, ran 900 feet to opposite the submerged automobile. Apprised that the father and uncle were unable to aid James, he swam to the automobile. Submerging himself to the open doorway, Campbell entered the automobile and reached the back seat but could not locate James. Visibility was negligible. Campbell surfaced briefly for air and again swam to the doorway. He searched the front part of the automobile for James but did not touch him. He rose to the surface, took a deep breath, and descended a third time. Again entering the automobile completely he found James and with difficulty freed him. Campbell towed James to the surface and thence to the bank. James was given artificial respiration but could not be revived. Campbell was winded. 42390-3777
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42390-3777