W. Curtis Posey saved Louis and Doris T. Fischer from drowning, Holmesville, Mississippi, September 1, 1954. Mrs. Fischer, 34, and her son Louis, 9, a non-swimmer, encountered difficulty in a 25-foot-deep section of the Bogue Chitto River, at a point about 65 feet from the bank. Louis seized and climbed upon Mrs. Fischer, forcing her two feet below the surface. After they separated, Mrs. Fischer lost consciousness and remained submerged. A man on the bank threw a cushion type life preserver within reach of Louis, who got hold of it. Curtis, 15, schoolboy, waded downstream to the edge of a sandbar and swam to Louis, noting for the first time that he had the life preserver. Directed to Mrs. Fischer by Louis, Curtis got hold of her by the hair. Curtis’s head repeatedly dipped beneath the surface as he attempted with great effort to lift Mrs. Fischer, who was 15 pounds heavier than he. He was unable to raise her head above water and became extremely tired and winded, lacking the strength to tow Mrs. Fischer toward the bank. A man obtained an innertube and hurled it to within 15 feet of Curtis. Curtis swam to the innertube, hooked one arm around it, and returned to Louis and Mrs. Fischer. Curtis regained his hold on Mrs. Fischer but could raise only the top of her head above the surface. Propelling himself with his feet, he began towing her slowly across the current. Louis grasped the innertube but lost his hold after being drawn six feet. Progressing 40 feet with Mrs. Fischer, Curtis reached a fallen tree projecting 25 feet from the bank. There, a man relieved him of Mrs. Fischer and drew her to the bank. Curtis swam 20 feet to Louis with the innertube and towed him to the bank. Mrs. Fischer was revived. She was treated for immersion at a hospital and recovered in a week. Curtis recovered after resting for 10 minutes.. 43265-3960
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