Thomas Dvorscek helped to save Jeanne L. Prodoehl from drowning, Oak Lawn, Illinois, December 15, 1968. While skating on a pond, Jeanne, 9, broke through the ice and fell into water 20 feet deep 100 feet from the nearest bank. The ice broke off each time she tried to climb out of the water, and she called for help. Thomas, 15, schoolboy, ran 300 feet to the pond and started toward Jeanne but felt the ice cracking under him. He returned to the bank and removed part of his attire. In a prone position he then wriggled toward the hole in the ice. He was within 10 feet of Jeanne when the ice broke between them. Thomas swam to Jeanne, who tried to climb onto him. He calmed her and, supporting her with one arm, used the other to break the ice toward the nearest bank. He tired from his efforts, and his legs began to become numb. Firemen arrived. A rope was thrown to within three feet of Thomas. Still supporting Jeanne, Thomas broke the ice to the rope and took hold of it. The firemen drew them to the bank. Jeanne and Thomas recovered after brief hospitalization.
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