GRAND COUNTY, Utah, June 12, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Heroism can come down to timing, Grand County officials said in telling the tale of a river rescue that saved three.
“Saving lives sometimes comes down to being in the right place at the right time,” says the online post shared by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and its search and rescue unit.
Two Moab men found themselves situated thusly on the Colorado River and saved a family of three from drowning, according to the postings.
A 40-year-old man was in an inflatable kayak with his two sons, 8 and 10 years old, when they flipped in whitewater upstream from a popular beach near Mile Marker 6 on Highway 128, officials said in describing June 6th’s events.
Gaar Lausman, a Moab resident and former associate of Grand County Sheriff Search and Rescue, witnessed the accident from the beach and immediately jumped on his paddleboard to intercept the two struggling boys.
The 10-year-old was reportedly wearing a belt-pack PFD (personal flotation device) that inflated with a C02 cartridge. That PFD had flipped the boy over so he was face down in the water.
The 8-year-old was wearing a PFD that was too big and failed to keep his head above water. Lausman was able to get the two boys onto his paddleboard but was unable to go after the father.
“At that moment, life-long Moab resident Daniel Wright just happened to be traveling upstream on his jet ski.”
Lausman was able to get his attention and pointed to the father who was still being swept down the river. Wright had actually passed within a few feet of the man, who was almost completely submerged at the time and virtually unnoticeable because of the substantial amount of high-water debris, according to the account online.
“Wright spun his jet ski around and reached for the man just as he went underwater again while raising his hand in desperation.
“Moab resident Eric Odenthal snapped the accompanying photo at that moment.”
The man had lost his PFD, which was in his lap when the boat flipped.
All three were safely transported to shore. They declined offers to have an ambulance respond.
Grand County’s Emergency Services sincerely thanks Gaar Lausman and Daniel Wright for their life-saving efforts. “Because of you, that family gets to go home.”
GCSAR would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to wear adequate, properly-fitted, and properly-worn PFDs everywhere on the Colorado River. The river’s surface can appear deceptively calm, while violent currents just a few inches underwater can pull a swimmer down or sweep a person farther from shore.
GCSAR shared more tips:
- While any stretch of the river can be dangerous at any water level, higher flows present even more danger. Here are a few points to consider, especially this time of year when the flow is high.
- Stay alert to changing conditions. Familiar rapids and eddies will continue to shift as the water levels change. If you’re camping, expect water levels to change overnight.
- Faster flows means it’s harder to catch eddies and boat ramps. Know where you’re going, and make your moves early so you don’t miss takeout or your camp.
- Flips are more likely. Make sure everyone in your group knows how to self-rescue!
- Rising water means more debris and driftwood. It’s not unusual to see entire trees coming down the river. Debris can also be sharp – pool floats and lazy river tubes are not advised.
- Avoid strainers and entanglements. On the banks, water is flowing through trees and plants, making good landing spots few and far between. Come ashore only at beaches and ramps.
- The water is cold! Expect swims to be long and dress for the swim: wear splash gear, a dry suit or a wetsuit. Pack warm, dry gear, even when the air is warm, so you can recover after a swim.
- Be prepared and help each other out. Cell phone service is limited in our river canyons. Once we get a page, we still have to travel from town to your location. It may be over an hour before we reach you.
