Rita Jane Ball, 21, nurse, saved John B. Dillinger, 5, from drowning, Bellevue, Ohio, February 10, 1945. John broke through ice on a reservoir into water seven feet deep 25 feet from the bank. Another boy ran away for help. Miss Ball ran 700 feet to the bank. The temperature was 30 degrees above zero. Removing her outer clothing and shoes, she stepped onto ice that extended three feet from the bank; dived into open water that extended seven feet farther from the bank, and rising, broke ice ahead of her and swam 15 feet to John, who then was under the surface Making a shallow dive, she took hold beneath his chin and supporting him swam to the ice at the bank. After handing John to a man on the bank, she got out of the water and worked over John for 10 minutes, partially reviving him. He was then removed to a hospital and recovered. Miss Ball was chilled but suffered no further effects. 40382-3426
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