Rupert Lyndon Smith, 18, student, saved John M. Phillips, 59, radio dispatcher, from drowning, Cleveland, Florida, July 19, 1965. While wading atop a dam across Shell Creek, Phillips lost his footing and dropped six feet into an area of turbulent water 10 feet deep at the base of the dam. He surfaced 15 feet from the bank but was unable to remain afloat in the churning water. Smith saw Phillips sink beneath the surface, where a strong current moved back toward the dam. From an abutment of the dam Smith jumped into the turbulent water 11 feet below and was submerged briefly. Phillips had not returned to the surface. With effort Smith swam in the turbulence to 15 feet from the bank. He submerged six feet and found Phillips inert six feet from the face of the dam. With considerable effort Smith managed to keep from being swept against the dam as he took Phillips to the surface. He then towed Phillips 20 feet through the churning water to the steel piling of the abutment. Tired, he clung to small projections of the piling and supported Phillips, who had revived. After resting, Smith moved Phillips along the piling to wadable water and thence to the bank.
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