Nelson E. Welch saved William H. Sheeran from drowning, Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 10, 1933. William, 7, fell from a walk that extended 70 feet from shore to an abandoned wharf in Absecon Bay. In deep water 10 feet from the bulkhead at the shore, he drifted in an eddy farther from the bulkhead. Welch, 25, clerk, who was fully clothed and was winded from running in response to an alarm, dived from the walk and swam 70 feet to William, reaching him 50 feet from the bulkhead. William, who was dazed and limp, slipped from Welch’s grasp two or three times, and while Welch was getting a firm hold on him, they drifted around the end of the wharf and then in a current of 3 m.p.h. along the wharf. Welch with great exertion tried to swim toward the wharf but made no progress. When the two had drifted at least 50 feet beyond the wharf, they were rescued by coast guards in a boat. William soon revived . Welch was on the verge of a collapse and suffered chills but soon recovered.
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