John E. Lindberg saved Anna M. Hart and Vivian A. Press from drowning, North Wildwood, New Jersey, February 2, 1935. Vivian, 11, broke through weak ice that extended one to three feet from the bank of Beach Creek and dropped into water eight feet deep. Anna, 10, who was beside her, also broke through and took hold of her coat. Both were briefly submerged and then drifted in a current of 2.5 m.p.h. John, 17, schoolboy, who had been forbidden by his physician to engage in violent exercise, ran to the bank and saw Anna and Vivian drifting five feet from the bank. Without removing any of his heavy clothing, he jumped into the water beside the girls. Clasping both with one arm, he tried to swim toward the bank, made no progress, and drifted. He noted the weight of his clothing and the coldness of the water. Before he drifted five feet, his mother, who could swim, jumped into the water, took hold of his coat collar, and tried to aid him. The four then drifted with the current as John stroked with one arm and supported the girls. After the four had drifted 65 feet, Anna got free from the others, swam a short distance, and was picked up by a boat and taken to the bank. The others drifted six feet farther and then were reached by another boat, and Vivian was pulled aboard. John and his mother held to the boat, which drifted 74 feet and then was paddled to the bank. John and his mother were pulled into the boat and taken to the bank.
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