Student Sinks to Pool Floor After Underwater Swim

A $1 wager came close to costing Robinson Brainard '48 his life Thursday, when he sank to the bottom of the Blockhouse swimming pool after swimming three lengths under water.

Brainard completed the 75-yard stint, which required almost a minute and a half, but when he rose to the surface for air he was unable to breathe, and sank to the bottom unconscious. Henry S. Birdseye '50, loser of the bet, rushed for aid from a pool supervisor, who dove in to recover the victim.

He required 10 minutes of artificial respiration before regaining consciousness, at which time he struggled so violently that five men were required to hold him down. After a brief rest he was able to walk away from the pool unaided.

Brainard himself could remember nothing after the middle of the last lap, when he recalled thinking he would be unable to finish. He admitted he was not in shape for such an undertaking, but has had no after-effects.