Leland Raye Riggs attempted to save Donald A. Gardom from drowning, Springerville, Arizona, May 15, 1964. Gardom, 19; Leland, 14, schoolboy, and another boy, 15, entered the cool water of a reservoir and swam about 300 feet diagonally to reach a 14-year-old girl who had encountered difficulty swimming at a point about 250 feet from the bank. At a point midway across the 450-foot-wide reservoir, in water 15 feet deep, Gardom stopped swimming, shouted that he could go no farther, and was submerged briefly several times. The 15-year-old boy swam to Gardom and, despite Gardom’s flailing arms, secured a hold on him. He started towing him but was unable to continue after he twisted his shoulder, which he had injured several days earlier. When Leland arrived, the other boy urged him to help Gardom before starting to return to the bank. Leland extended a hand to Gardom and urged him to take hold of it, but Gardom paid no heed and, still floundering, was submerged briefly twice more. He then sank again, grasped Leland by the ankles, and pulled him to the bottom. Gardom remained submerged but released Leland, who returned to the surface briefly. As Leland sank again, his brother arrived, grasped his upraised hand, and towed him to the bank. Gardom’s body later was recovered. The girl was rescued by others.
47523 – 4878
47523-4878