Ronald L. Stafford saved Jon E. Wight, 4, from drowning, North Muskegon, Michigan, January 25, 1962. Jon, 4, who could not swim, was walking on ice on an extension of Bear Lake Channel when he broke through into deep water 10 feet from the bank and was submerged. Ronald, 13, schoolboy, who was heavily clothed, was attracted and ran a total of 1,400 feet to the bank of the channel, from where he saw Jon floating beneath the surface. Ronald removed his jacket but did not delay further to take off the oversize leather boots he was wearing. He walked two feet on the ice, which gave way beneath him. Ronald broke the ice for another foot ahead of him and then began to swim as the thin ice broke into small pieces. He swam seven feet to within two feet of Jon, who had drifted two feet farther from the bank into water 10 feet deep. Already badly chilled, Ronald took a deep breath and submerged two feet. He grasped Jon by his clothing and surfaced. Ronald, his limbs becoming numb, towed Jon five feet toward the bank. He then handed Jon to a man, who had waded six feet from the bank. The man carried Jon and steadied Ronald, who was winded. They waded to the bank. Jon was revived and recovered.
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