Samuel E. Sansevere

Samuel E. Sansevere, 25, cargo checker, saved Vincenzo Mariono, 56, longshoreman, from drowning, Hoboken, New Jersey, July 9, 1950. While at work on a lighter moored bedisde a steamship in the Hudson River, Marino lost his balance and fell into deep water betewwn the hulls, which were 3 feet apart. He struck his head on the side of the ship, became semiconscious, and was submerged. Sansevere was attracted and ran to the side of the steamship. Removing an artificial leg and part of his clothing, he climbed over the bulwark. He suspended himself by his hands and dropped 22 feet into the water, brushing against the ship in descent. He emerged and at the direction of men on the lighter swam nine feet to where Marino had sunk. Sansevere made a surface dive and reached Marion, who was inert, and towed him to the surface. He secured Marino’s arms to a rope ladder which had been lowered from the lighter. Marino was drawn from the water and was revived, and Sansevere was aided onto the lighter.