Michael J. Kissling attempted to save Stephen E. Brown and saved Mark E. Emler from drowning, Coshocton, Ohio, October 25, 1963. While schoolboys Stephen, 15, Mark, 15, and Michael, 15, were attempting to swim to an island in the Muskingum River, Stephen suffered a cramp and called for help in water 12 feet deep 55 feet from the bank. Michael nearly had reached the island but turned back and swam 50 feet to Stephen, who grasped him by the shoulders and attempted to climb onto him. Both were submerged briefly. In the struggle Stephen struck Michael and grasped him by the hair, causing both to be submerged again. Michaelswallowed some water but brought Brown to the surface. He grasped Michael around the neck, and they were submerged a third time. Michael broke away and returned to the surface badly winded. As Michael trod water and watched in vain for Stephen to reappear, two boys on the bank called his attention to Mark, who had played out and was floating inert face downward in deep water as he drifted downstream. Breathing heavily, Michael swam 50 feet to Mark, towed him 12 feet to wadable water, and waded with him eight feet to the bank, where he revived him. Rescue squads later recovered Stephen’s body.
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