Orville Dale Loos, 20, died attempting to save Keen Freeman, 12, from drowning, El Portal, California, July 8, 1946. Keen fell from the bank into the Merced River and was carried in roaring swirling water 2.5 feet deep toward Vernal Fall. Loos vaulted a guardrailing to the water line and lunged seven feet from the bank 40 feet above the fall. As Keen was carried to him in a current of more than six m.p.h., Loos with one hand grasped his shirt and with his free hand tried to get a purchase on the slippery rock bottom. Keen also groped for a hold on the bottom, but neither succeeded. Within 20 feet of the fall Loos extended his hand toward a man who held to the railing but could not reach him. Loos and Keen were swept over the fall, a drop of 317 feet. Both were drowned. 40782-3518
40782 – 3518
40782-3518