Richard Doyle helped to save Clayton W. Smith from drowning, Metropolis, Illinois, September 10, 1994. Clayton, 8, and his brother, nonswimmers, were wading in the Ohio River when they entered water that was over their heads and began to struggle. On the bank, Doyle, 35, purchasing department clerk, was alerted to the situation. As another man swam out to Clayton’s brother, Doyle ran to the river and waded and swam to Clayton. After another rescuer was submerged by Clayton, Doyle seized Clayton by the arm, but he too was submerged by the boy. Maintaining a hold of Clayton, Doyle took him, with difficulty, to wadable water, from where others took him the remaining distance to the bank. Doyle, who was exhausted, required assistance to the bank, and he was hospitalized three days for having nearly drowned. He recovered. Clayton was uninjured and his brother was saved by a boater, but the man who had swum out to the brother drowned.
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