Roger Lee Thorson saved Clifford A. Travis, Jr., 14, schoolboy, from drowning, Falls City, Oregon, July 27, 1960. Travis, 14, schoolboy, fell 26 feet from atop a waterfall in the Little Luckiamute River and dropped into the water below, striking projecting rocks an the way down and losing consciousness. In water 22 feet deep at the base of the falls he was caught and held by debris which had accumulated on the bottom in an eroded basin. Other youths in the water searched for Travis some distance below the falls but could not find him. Roger, 16, schoolboy, who was somewhat tired from swimming for two hours, dived into the water from the top of a vertical bank 26 feet high and searched unsuccessfully for Travis near the base of the falls. He then dived beneath the surface and swam through turbulent water to behind the falls but still could not find Travis. Having noted the accumulated debris, Roger made another surface dive and swam downward to the bottom of the basin, where he saw Travis inert among the debris. Roger grasped Travis by the wrist and surfaced with him. Three other youths aided in taking Travis downstream to where they could climb onto the bank. Travis, who had suffered severe injuries, was revived. He recovered.
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