Powell A. Fraser, Jr., 15, schoolboy, helped to save Carrie Snyder, 52, from drowning, St. Simons Island, Georgia, July 31, 1964. Mrs. Snyder fell 10 feet from a pier into St. Simons Sound, which was shark-infested and in which tidal currents were strong. She sustained rib injuries and floundered in deep water 360 feet from shore. Fraser dived into the water, swam 20 feet to Mrs. Snyder, and took hold of her. A sailor also entered the water and swam to her. Fraser and the sailor tried to tow Mrs. Snyder but because of the current could make no progress. The sailor then released Mrs. Snyder and swam shoreward in obvious distress. With effort Fraser towed Mrs. Snyder 35 feet shoreward and was met by J. Duncan Shelby, who had swum 340 feet from shore. By then Mrs. Snyder was inert. Duncan, who was winded, took hold of her and tried to keep her face above the water. As they moved her shoreward with difficulty, Duncan at times lost hold of her and was submerged briefly. Donald G. Daniell and a lifeguard entered the water from shore. Noting that the sailor barely was able to stay afloat, the lifeguard swam to him and towed him to safety. Meanwhile Fraser and Duncan towed Mrs. Snyder a 150 fifty feet. By then Duncan was very short of breath, and Fraser was tired. Daniell met them a 180 feet from shore. Because Duncan was nearly exhausted, Daniell told him to swim to shore, which he did with great effort. Daniell held Mrs. Snyder’s face above the surface as he and Fraser towed her a 150 feet with much effort, making slow progress. They were met by a boy with a rope. While Fraser and Daniell held one end of the rope, the boy swam to wadable water with the other end. Duncan and the boy pulled on the rope and aided Fraser and Daniell, with Mrs. Snyder, to wadable water. Firemen arrived and revived Mrs. Snyder.
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