John Robert Hunt, 16, schoolboy, helped to save Jerry L. Graft, 14, schoolboy, from drowning, Newark, Ohio, June 5, 1949. While swimming in a pond in a gravel pit, Jerry became tired 150 feet from the bank in water 15 feet deep. He called for aid. He was submerged briefly as John swam five feet to him. Jerry seized John’s wrist and twice pulled him beneath the surface. While they were submerged the second time, John forcibly broke Jerry’s hold and rose. Jerry surfaced slowly, having become unconscious. John then took hold of Jerry’s hair and supported him at the surface. A man who saw the struggle between the boys swam 300 feet to them and took hold of Jerry as John released him and swam to the bank. The man lost his hold on Jerry, who sank to the bottom and lay inert. The man dived twice but could not locate him. On his third attempt, he found Jerry on the bottom and took him to the surface. With difficulty, the man towed Jerry 135 feet to wadable water, where another man assisted him in carrying Jerry to the bank. Jerry was revived. John and the first man were fatigued. 3639-41896
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