William G. Long saved Joshua D. Walker from drowning, Charles Town, West Virginia, May 30, 1994. Joshua, 11, was fishing in the Shenandoah River when he lost his footing and fell into a deep pool in the river. After he struggled, without success, to overcome a very strong, downward-pulling undercurrent in the pool, his father attempted to save him, but he too became caught in the undercurrent. Fishing from the bank, Long, 36, clergyman, saw Joshua and his father struggling. He dived into the river and swam about 75 feet to them. He seized Joshua and, joining in the struggle against the undercurrent, began to swim back to the bank with him. Exertion sapping his strength, Long reached wadable water and pushed Joshua toward the bank. Tired but uninjured, Joshua left the river. Long and Joshua’s father, both exhausted, rested before climbing onto the bank.
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