Robert L. Bell saved Edward A. Council, Jr., from drowning, Morehead City, North Carolina, June 4, 1932. Edward, 11, and Robert, 15, schoolboy, dived from a rowboat into water 14 feet deep in Bogue Sound at a point 333 feet from the shore. The boat drifted away from them, and Edward began to thresh and call for help. Robert swam eight feet to him, and Edward clasped him around the neck. Both were submerged and Robert with difficulty freed himself. Robert cautiously took hold of Edward, who was threshing, and swam a few feet. Edward then slipped from Robert’s hold, and as he went under the surface, he clasped his arms around Robert’s legs and pulled him under the surface. Robert quickly kicked free and raised Edward to the surface. Holding Edward, he swam with great exertion 220 feet to wadable water. He waded 25 feet toward the shore, and a man met them and carried Edward, who was unconscious, to a pier. The man returned to Robert, who was staggering from weakness, and aided him to the shore. Edward was revived. Robert was temporarily exhausted.
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