Richard G. King saved Helen I. Tanner from drowning, Belpre, Ohio, August 31, 1959. Mrs. Tanner, 35, who could not swim, climbed over the railing of a bridge and dropped 80 feet into the Ohio River, where she was submerged briefly in water 20 feet deep 170 feet from the bank. She then called for help as she struggled to stay afloat but alternately rose and sank near a pier of the bridge. Richard, 14, schoolboy, who was in the water near the bank farther downstream, started swimming toward Mrs. Tanner despite the pleas of his mother. After a total swim of 330 feet, Richard reached Mrs. Tanner. Cautioning her not to struggle, Richard took hold of Mrs. Tanner and towed her 250 feet to a dock at the bank. Richard lifted her onto the dock and then climbed from the water.
45518 – 4534
45518-4534