Francis Jude Guzzardi, 18, schoolboy, saved Charles J. Giampaolo, 27, store proprietor, from drowning, New Preston, Connecticut, May 22, 1955. Giampaolo, who was a poor swimmer, started across Lake Waramaug in a motorboat and was 1,000 feet from shore when the steering cable broke. As the craft began circling erratically at 25 m.p.h., Giampaolo was thrown into water 20 feet deep but managed to hold to the boat as it continued in circles generally 40 feet in diameter. Guzzardi, who had learned to swim only a year previously, and another youth, who was a poor swimmer, were 1,000 feet away in another motorboat. Guzzardi piloted his boat to within 60 feet of the runaway craft. As Guzzardi edged his craft nearer, Giampaolo released his hold on the circling boat and started swimming toward the Guzzardi craft but floundered near it and began to sink. Guzzardi, without removing his clothing, dived into the choppy water as the runaway boat circled erratically to within 15 feet of them. He grasped Giampaolo’s hair and brought him to the surface, where Giampaolo threw his arms around Guzzardi’s shoulders, causing him to be submerged. Guzzardi pulled Giampaolo beneath the surface, where he became unconscious and did not struggle again. Guzzardi returned to the surface and was barely able to keep his head above water while holding Giampaolo, whose head was two feet below water level. Giampaolo was too heavy to lift to the surface, and Guzzardi maintained his hold with extreme difficulty until two men in another boat arrived and pulled Giampaolo from the water. Guzzardi started to climb aboard but, although extremely tired, then swam 35 feet to his own craft. He and the other youth reached shore safely. Giampaolo and Guzzardi were tired but recovered. 43737-4036
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43737-4036