A 14-year-old from Montana is being called a hero after using his rodeo lasso skills to save a drowning man. Jory Thomas was practicing roping cattle near the Yellowstone River over the Fourth of July weekend when he heard screaming. He saw a man struggling in the swift current, clinging to a cooler after falling from a raft and hitting a bridge pier.
Without a second thought, Jory waded chest-deep into the river and threw his lariat. On the very first attempt, he caught the victim around the arm and neck and pulled him to shore. The rescue happened just seconds before the man would have been swept into dangerous rapids and logjams. A sheriff’s deputy arrived three minutes after the 911 call, but Jory had already completed the rescue.
Sweet Grass County Sheriff Alan Ronneberg said Jory“100%”saved the man’s life. Jory’s grandmother recalled him coming out of the water and saying,“I think I just saved a life.”This story is the definition of quick thinking, bravery, and using your unique talents for good. What’s a skill you have that might come in handy in an emergency?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.