John A. Hamilton saved Melinda A. Cockney and helped to save Leslie Semmler from drowning, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, July 20, 1983. Melinda, 4, and Leslie, 2, were in the cab of a pickup truck that rolled into the Mackenzie River, East Channel, and submerged in water 10 feet deep. Hamilton, 23, college student, who learned of the accident as he approached the scene in his boat, immediately dived into the muddy water and began to search for the truck. Finding it, he made numerous dives into the truck’s interior and, despite having virtually no visibility in the water, found Melinda and took her to the surface. Hamilton then directed a police officer to the truck, and both men made repeated dives for Leslie, who was saved by the officer. Melinda and Leslie fully recovered after hospitalization.
60078 – 6941
60078-6941