Nathaniel Bacon saved Priscilla Woods from drowning, Selma, Alabama, January 8, 2013. Woods, 38, struggled to stay afloat in the Alabama River at a point about 70 feet from the closer bank. His attention having been attracted to her earlier, Bacon, 29, university student, drove to a point from which he could access the river bank and then ran about 650 feet to the scene. On seeing Woods flailing her arms in the water, Bacon removed his outer attire and entered the river, the water temperature of which was 49 degrees. Navigating over large debris along the bank, he waded and then swam to Woods. He hooked his arm under hers and across her chest and, stroking with his free arm, pulled her toward the bank. Halfway there, a shift in their position caused Bacon to submerge. Resurfacing, he established a hold on Woods again and continued swimming her toward the bank. A fisherman who had responded by then helped Bacon drag Woods from the river. Woods was taken to the hospital for treatment. Bacon sustained cuts to his feet, and he was tired and cold. He fully recovered.
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