Walter Edward Holmes, 12, schoolboy, died helping to save Joe E. Duckett, 15, schoolboy, from drowning, Parkin, Arkansas, August 2, 1959. While they were towing Joe, who could not swim, through water seven feet deep in an irrigation ditch 20 feet wide, two younger boys played out; and all three were submerged briefly midway the banks. As his companions left him and swam to the bank, Joe floundered wildly and called for help. Walter Edward also was in the water and immediately swam to Joe, who seized him, causing both to be submerged. Odell H. Wortharn by then had entered the water. He swam to where the two boys had sunk. Joe then surfaced in front of Odell, who took hold of him around the waist. As Joe continued to flail his arms, Odell touched Walter Edward under water and attempted to lift him to the surface. Walter Edward, who seemed to be inert, slipped from Odell’s grasp and sank. Odell towed Joe to the bank and then swam back to the middle of the ditch. He dived several times without contacting Walter Edward and then, badly tired, returned to the bank. Others were summoned, and they removed Walter Edward from the water. He could not be revived. 44830-4328
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