Kenneth M. Langhams, Jr., 10, schoolboy, helped to save Christopher Markin, 6, from drowning, Wantagh, New York, January 21, 1966. While walking on an ice-covered pond, Christopher broke through 40 feet from the nearest bank area and was submerged briefly in water nine feet deep. A very poor swimmer, he flailed wildly and called for help. Kenneth left the bank and approached to within six feet of Christopher. Water on the ice caused him to slide into the hole, and he also was submerged briefly. Christopher grasped Kenneth and continued flailing and kicking. They were submerged twice before Kenneth succeeded in freeing himself. He then held Christopher at the edge of the hole while the latter’s 10-year-old brother crawled to within three feet of it. The ice broke, and the brother also fell into the water. William E. Poelker saw the boys in the hole. From another bank of the pond William ran and crawled to within eight feet of the hole, where he broke through. He broke the ice for about a foot toward Christopher. He tried to climb onto the ice, but it broke off. David Rosenblum, a poor swimmer, saw the situation. Carrying a plank 10 feet long, Rosenblum stepped onto the ice at another corner of the pond and moved to within two feet of the hole, where he broke through and was submerged briefly. He broke the ice to the hole, pulling the plank after him. Rosenblum boosted Christopher’s brother onto the ice as a boy approached from another direction and by means of a stick aided William out of the water. They crawled to the bank. Rosenblum held to the plank and drew Christopher to it. Kenneth grasped the plank, but Christopher’s hands were too cold for him to hold to it. Gasping from the cold water, Rosenblum moved Christopher along the plank toward the bank while breaking the ice ahead of him. Kenneth held to the plank as Rosenblum continued pushing it and breaking ice to within 20 feet of the bank. He then pushed the plank to two men who were 10 feet from the bank. They held the plank while Rosenblum, Christopher, and Kenneth continued along it. Christopher several times slipped beneath the surface, but Rosenblum drew him back to the plank. They reached the men, who aided them the rest of the way to the bank.
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