John Iek Hou Lai helped to save Gregory C. Stryrchalski from drowning, South Bend., Indiana, February 4. 1973. When Gregory, 13, broke through an ice-covered lagoon into deep water, a college professor started toward him, breaking a path in the ice. Twenty feet from Gregory, he found the ice too thick to break; and he could not climb out. Lai, 22, technical school student, then crawled to Gregory. When he tried to pull Gregory out, Lai also fell into the water. Holding Gregory, Lai broke a path back to the thick ice 10 feet from the professor. A ladder was slid to the professor, who pushed it on to Lai. After aiding Gregory onto the ladder, Lai also climbed onto it; and they proceeded to the professor, who was still in the water. Gregory again fell in. Lai entered the water; and he and the professor then took Gregory to the bank.
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