Constance F. Hynes saved Barbara A. McKnight from drowning, Bottineau, North Dakota, June 15, 1959. Barbara, 16, attempted to swim from the bank of Lake Metigoshe to an island but played out 350 feet from it in water 12 feet deep. Two sisters, 15 and 13, who had been swimming 10 feet ahead of Barbarat returned to her. They supported her at the surface but, doubting that they could get her to shore, called for help from Constance, 16, schoolgirl. Although she already had swum more than 600 feet and was nearing the island, Constance swam back 225 feet to give assistance. Barbara flailed her arms and broke free from the sisters but then became inert, her head submerging. As the older sister swam ahead to the island, Constance towed Barbara 300 feet. She then felt her arms and legs tiring and asked the younger girl to support Barbara briefly. When Barbara’s head submerged, Constance quickly took hold of her again. She towed Barbara 30 feet farther and reached wadable water, winded and fatigued. The two sisters then aided in taking Barbara the remaining 20 feet to the island, where she soon revived.
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