What happened to Reis Leming after he collapsed after saving 27 people in the 1953 floods?

The story of the heroic efforts of 22-year-old American serviceman Reis Leming in helping to save the lives of 27 people from the devastating floods that hit the East coast in January 1953 is well-known.

He was awarded the George Cross , the first non-Briton to be awarded the George Cross medal for bravery in peace-time.

His rescue efforts were all the more remarkable because he couldn't swim.

However, writes Richard Parr, what is perhaps less well-known is the part played by Hunstanton hotelier, Dot Smith, in helping the young airman after he collapsed from exposure on Hunstanton promenade.

At that time, Dot and her husband Stan, ran the Driftwood Hotel in the town and, as a State Enrolled Registered nurse, Dot raced to the promenade on that fateful night of 31st January, 1953, to offer to help and it was there that she found Reis Leming lying in his anti-exposure suit (wet suit) in a semi-conscious state.

Dot shouted out to other helpers, working in the dark, icy cold rain and strong winds, to cut Reis out of his wet suit.

For some unknown reason Dot shouted "cut his legs off" meaning the legs of his wet suit and not his real legs.

That rather confusing instruction from Dot was recalled many years later when Reis and Dot met again in an emotional re-union on Hunstanton sea-front.

As the couple hugged each other, Reis told Dot that, despite suffering from exposure after being in the icy seawater for so long, he was still able to hear Dot's words "cut his legs off".

With tears in her eyes, Dot told Reis: "No, no, I wasn't referring to your real legs, but the legs of your wet suit". Reis told her that he dreamt about Dot's words for years afterwards.

Dot, who died in 2003 in her mid-80s, always treasured that re-union with the brave floods hero she gave emergency medical assistance to on Hunstanton sea-front all those years ago.