Biologist hears cries for help and dives into river to save child, Idaho officials say
A biologist was finishing up work at an Idaho river when he heard cries for help.
When he realized a 10-year-old child needed help, he dove into a rushing river to save him, Idaho Fish and Game said in an Aug. 5 news release.
On July 13, Clearwater Region Fisheries Habitat biologist Robert Hand was on the bank of the Selway River, wildlife officials said.
He heard some “commotion” coming from downstream, so he went to check it out, officials said.
That’s when he realized a family had been calling for help and asking for rope to save their boy who had been swept away in the strong current, officials said.
The child was struggling in the water.
Hand told wildlife officials there wasn’t time to trek back to his truck to grab a rope or a flotation device, so he ran down the river to catch up with the boy.
Then he dove into the fast-moving water and reached the child who had tired himself out from fighting the current, wildlife officials said.
He pulled him to the shoreline where the two waited for his family.
Hand has been with the wildlife agency for 22 years and has gone through swift water training, officials said.
