Randall Richardson Burt saved Parris M. Woodbury from drowning, Woodbridge, Virginia, July 6, 1963. While swimming in Belmont Bay, Parris, 11, got into difficulty 300 feet from shore and called for help as he flailed wildly and twice was submerged briefly in water eight feet deep between choppy waves as much as two feet high. Randall, 12, schoolboy, who had been swimming for a half an hour, swam 30 feet to Parris and told him to hold to his shoulder. Parris placed his elbow on Randall’s shoulder and rested. Because Parris was heavier than he, Randall made no attempt to tow him against the tidal current but trod water and awaited aid. After about five minutes Randall’s legs became fatigued. Telling Parris to tread water by himself, Randall submerged to the bottom where he was able to stay briefly and rest his legs. He returned to the surface alongside Parris, who again rested his elbow on Randall’s shoulder. During the next five minutes Randall twice repeated his procedure of going to the bottom to rest. Occupants of a boat were attracted, and they took them to shore.
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