John M. Kinsella, 10, schoolboy, helped to save Wendy Watson, 9, from drowning, Fort Erie, Ontario, June 22, 1963. While swimming in the Niagara River 450 feet above International Bridge, Wendy got into trouble 25 feet from the bank and was submerged briefly in water beyond her depth. Coughing from water she had swallowed, she flailed wildly and called for help. Kinsella was swimming in the river and swam 50 feet to Wendy, who outweighed him by thirty pounds. She grasped him around the neck, causing them to be submerged. Wendy released him and surfaced, but her feet touched Kinsella and she wrapped her legs around his neck, keeping him submerged. Kinsella tried in vain to break free. John E. Robley swam 70 feet to Wendy. He took hold of her and pulled her toward the bank. She released Kinsella, who struggled to the surface gasping and coughing from water he had swallowed. Robley towed Wendy eight feet toward the bank and secured footing. Regaining his breath, Kinsella swam to them and aided in taking Wendy to the bank.
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