LeRoy B. McCraw, Jr., 16, schoolboy, saved Steven E. Showalter, 6, from drowning, Lynchburg, Virginia, January 15, 1965. While walking on an ice-covered lake, Steven, who could not swim, broke through 50 feet from the bank into water seven feet deep and called for help as he held to the edge of the ice. Air temperature was 25 five degrees. McCraw, a woman, a girl, and a boy ran to the bank. McCraw sent the boy to get a life preserver and told the woman to telephone the rescue squad. When his mother arrived, Steven released his hold on the ice and began bobbing up and down in the water. McCraw restrained the mother, a poor swimmer, from entering the lake. After removing his coat and shoes, McCraw broke a path in the ice to 15 feet from the bank. He then swam, breaking the ice ahead of him, 35 feet to Steven, who meanwhile had been submerged briefly twice and was frantic. Steven struggled until McCraw took hold of him. McCraw towed Steven 30 feet toward the bank, becoming fatigued. The mother threw a life preserver to McCraw, and he used it to help support Steven. McCraw towed Steven 10 feet farther and waded with him to the bank.
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