Nelson W. Baker, Jr., died attempting to save Ryan T. Sharp from drowning, Patton, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1998. While riding a bicycle on ice-covered Chest Creek, Ryan, 14, broke through the ice at a point about 20 feet from the closer bank. He could not extract himself from the creek and, panicking, yelled for help. Baker, 27, mechanic, was walking his dog in the vicinity at the time. Taking a stick with him, Baker crawled onto the ice and proceeded toward Ryan. He extended the stick to Ryan, but then the ice beneath Baker gave way, and he too fell into the creek. Baker grasped Ryan, and a struggle ensued, during which Baker submerged, then resurfaced. He submerged a final time, as did Ryan. Firefighters arrived and, using a boat, located first Ryan, then Baker, and removed them from the creek. Both were taken to the hospital, where each was pronounced dead of drowning and hypothermia.
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