Raymond M. Czerp, 15, schoolboy, saved George R., 12, James W., 10, and Hazel G. Dillon, 46, from drowning, Amberg, Wisconsin, July 17, 1955. While wading in a cove of Pike River, George stepped into a whirlpool 12 feet in diameter and was submerged briefly in water six and a half feet deep. James tried to aid his brother, and both boys were submerged briefly twice. Mrs. Dillon, mother of the boys, went to their aid fully attired and also was submerged by George and James, who grasped her. She surfaced and attempted to reach wadable water with her sons but was unable to do so. Raymond was attracted and ran to a beach at the opposite side of the cove. Entering the water fully clothed, he waded and swam 53 feet to the center of the whirlpool, where Mrs. Dillon was strugling to stay afloat as the boys clung to her. Raymond pulled George from his mother, towed him six feet, and lifted him onto a rocky ledge, from where George made his way to safety. Raymond swam five feet to James, who had his arm about Mrs. Dillon’s neck. Although James resisted, Raymond broke the boy’s hold on his mother. James then climbed onto Raymond, who freed himself and swam 20 feet to wadable water towing James. As James waded to the beach, Raymond swam 18 feet back to Mrs. Dillon and aided her to wadable water, from where both waded to the beach. George, James, and Mrs, Dillon were tired and nervous. Raymond was winded. All recovered. 43725-4106
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