[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO DAMIAN BELL

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                            HON. DAVID YOUNG

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2017

  Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Damian Bell of Pleasant Hill, Iowa for being honored with 
the Carnegie Medal by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission for the role he 
played in saving the life of Richard Rauzi.
  Richard was snowshoeing and taking photographs on Lake Ahquabi on 
February 14, 2016, when he fell through the ice trying to rescue a 
goose frozen in the slush. Damian, his friend Jesse Bannor, and their 
sons were ice fishing in a local shack. Damian's son, Konnor, heard 
Richard yelling for help, and the two men raced to the rescue. Using a 
nearby canoe, Damian made his way over to Richard. Unable to pull him 
aboard, and with the canoe threatening to tip over, Damian secured 
Richard to the boat with a rope, then stepped onto the ice and 
attempted to pull Richard from the water before firefighters arrived on 
scene to help in the efforts. Even though he had been in the water for 
40 minutes on a 15 degree day, Richard survived after two days with 
extreme hypothermia.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Damian Bell for his courage and heroic actions 
in helping to save the life of Richard Rauzi. It is humbling to know 
that there are people like Damian who are willing to risk their own 
lives to save the life of another. I ask that my colleagues in the 
United States House of Representatives will join me in congratulating 
Damian on receiving this esteemed designation and in wishing him 
nothing but the best.

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