Stephen W. Gosnell helped to save Dwayne E. Beggs and assisted in attempts to save two others from drowning, Ormstown, Quebec, June 18, 1971. Dwayne, 12, and two other boys, 9 and 10, were swimming in the Chateauguay River when the current began carrying them downstream. Stephen, 15, and another youth, 13, undressed to their underwear and swam to where the 10-year-old boy had submerged in deep water 100 feet: from the bank. Stephen and the other youth dived twice but could not find the boy, who drowned. Swimming about 75 feet, Stephen and the other youth reached Dwayne and the 9-year-old boy, who were floundering. They towed the two boys to atop a submerged rock; and when the 9-year-old was carried away by the current, the other youth swam after him, found him inert, and began towing him toward the bank. The 15-year-old youth then went under briefly and lost his hold on the boy, who sank and drowned. In the meantime Stephen had towed Dwayne to within eight feet of the bank, where they were joined by the other youth. Together, Stephen and the youth took Dwayne nearer the bank, from where adults aided them in climbing out of the water. 52660-6029
52660 – 6029
52660-6029