Eugene V. Long helped to save Louis V. Podgornik from suffocation, Redwood City, California, March 30, 1960. Podgornik, 40, laborer, was on the side of a massive pile of crude rock salt which rose to a height of 85 feet, attempting to break the crust on salt piled 10 feet deep above a grating through which it was fed to a conveyor. When the crust suddenly broke, Podgornik was covered by salt crystals above the conveyor, which then was not operating. Workmen nearby shouted for help, attracting Long, 48, carpenter, and others. They began to dig for Podgornik but found the process too slow. The conveyor then was operated briefly, carrying away enough salt to uncover Podgornik in a hole nine feet deep and six feet in diameter. Podgornik, who had clusters of salt crystals on his head, was kneeling and made no effort to rise. Long moved cautiously to the hole and slid into it. He stood alongside Podgornik with his head three feet below tons of loose salt, which lay above the hole on the crusted slope of the main pile. As Long prepared to lift Podgornik, several tons of salt slid into the hole, burying Podgornik to his head and covering Long to his chest. Long cleared salt from about Podgornik’s face and administered mouth-to-mouth respiration until he began to revive. Firemen arrived with an oxygen hose, with which Long revived Podgornik further. Firemen and others then installed shoring around the two men. The activity provoked minor slides, but Long kept the salt away from Podgornik’s face and administered oxygen to him when necessary. Salt then was dug from inside the shored area, and the two men were removed. Podgornik was hospitalized and recovered. 45088-4389
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