Drowning man saved by good Samaritan

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Story Published: Jun 2, 2009 at 4:28 PM MST

Story Updated: Jun 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM MST

By Steven Pope

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ST. ANTHONY - A good Samaritan has saved the life of a drowning man in St. Anthony. 22-year-old Dalon Rotter from Rexburg was floating down the north fork of the Snake River when he went over an edge and began drowning.

"The victim was right here in the middle of the river. You have a little stick sticking out of the water. Right there is a rock that comes up... He got his foot stuck. The current is pushing up against you with quite a bit of force and he couldn't get his foot out of there," explained Jason Laughlin.

Victim Dalon Rotter was tubing down the river.

"With the water as high it is right now, it's very dangerous," said Sgt. Terry Harris.

So when Jason saw Dalon stuck in the middle of the river, he went to the trunk of his car.

"I carry my life jacket in my trunk just in case something like this would happen," said Laughlin.

And then he swam out to help.

"I was able to get my life jacket on him," said Laughlin.

"I thought he did an amazing job. I don't think we could did it as quickly as he got it done. It was obvious he had experience doing that kind of thing," said Sgt. Terry Harris.

Last summer a drowning prompted the St. Anthony Police Department to get some "throw bags," to help in drowning situations like this one. But this was their first time with hands on experience, like tying the throw bag to a tree.

"Police officers were on the side, they had throw bags with them. From then I was very easily able to instruct them on how to do a proficient rescue," said Laughlin.

If our hero hadn't have come along. He would have been swept deeper into these rapids.

The Sand Bar is a popular place to swim, but the police department and experts alike caution swimmers from entering the river while the water is so high.

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