Albert Lee Harris, 14, schoolboy, saved Russell P. Medlock, 33, and Frederick N. Lewis, 36, painters, and attempted to save Roy D. Lewis, 12, schoolboy, from drowning, Brickeys, Arkansas, April 11, 1953. A motorboat in which Medlock, Lewis, and the latter’s son Roy were riding in Midway Lake was swamped by waves 2.5 feet high and sank in deep water 100 feet from shore, Medlock and Roy left the boat, the bow of which projected a foot above the surface, and began swimming toward shore. Impeded by their clothing, they tired rapidly. Lewis reached Roy 65 feet from shore but was unable to support him; and they repeatedly sank and rose. Medlock, who was 40 feet closer to shore, was continually buffeted by the waves and became exhausted. Harris was attracted and ran 900 feet along the shore from a dock. Removing only his jacket and entering the water, he reached Medlock, who was inert, and towed him to shore. Without pausing, Harris waded from shore and swam toward Lewis and Roy. As Harris approached, Roy slid from the grasp of Lewis and sank. Unable to regain his hold on Roy, Lewis sank to the bottom and rose unconscious. Harris reached Lewis and took hold of him. He peered beneath the surface but did not observe Roy. He towed Lewis to shore and, although tired, retraced his course to where Roy had sunk. For nearly two minutes he swam circling that area but was unable to locate Roy and returned to shore. Medlock and Lewis were revived. Roy was drowned. Harris was extremely tired. 42851-3895
42851 – 3895
42851-3895