Jory Thomas is a “true example of the Montana spirit,” Senator Steve Daines said in a statement
Credit: Sweet Grass Co Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- A teenager in Montana used a rodeo lasso to save a man from drowning in the Yellowstone River during a family camping trip
- Jory Thomas, 14, saw the man drifting down the Yellowstone River and was able to drag him to safety until first responders arrived and took over
- The teen was named Montanan of the Month by Sen. Steve Daines and given a certificate from the local sheriff for his lifesaving efforts
A teenage boy in Montana is being celebrated for using a rodeo lasso to rescue a drowning man during a family vacation.
Jory Thomas, 14, was camping with his family near Greycliff, around 70 miles west of Billings, on the Fourth of July weekend.
On Sunday, July 5, he heard shouts for help coming from the nearby Yellowstone River, and found people floating in the water, CBS affiliate KTVQ reported.
A raft and paddleboard then hit the pillar of a bridge, throwing four people into the water. Three were able to make it to land, but one was left floating downstream while clinging to a cooler.
Credit: KTVQ News/Youtube
“This current was pretty fast then, and he was moving pretty quickly,” Thomas told KTVQ. “Only thing I could focus on was helping him get out of the water, because I didn’t want to see anyone go in front of me.”
Thomas emptied his pockets and ran along the riverbank until he was alongside the man. He also brought his lariat, a thick rope used as a lasso, and threw it toward the man, hoping that it would help drag him to safety.
“Luckily, I caught him first try,” he told the outlet.
Thomas slowly pulled the man through the chest-deep water to safety until first responders arrived on the scene and took over.
“He said, ‘I think I just saved a life,’ ” his grandmother told KTVQ about Thomas’ reaction. “And we all said, ‘Yeah, you did.’ ”
“His first instinct always is to help other people. He’s always been that way,” she added. “The whole community is proud of him. We’ve had a lot of feedback, but that’s Jory. He’s always there to help somebody else.”
Credit: Google Street view
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On Tuesday, July 21, Sweet Grass County Sheriff Alan Ronneberg and Undersheriff Ron Swanson presented Thomas with a Certificate of Achievement for his actions, the Sheriff’s Office shared in a Facebook post.
On Monday, July 27, Montana Sen. Steve Daines also recognized the teen as Montanan of the Month, submitting a statement in his honor for the Congressional Record.
“Jory demonstrated quick thinking and coolness under pressure, with bravery far beyond his years,” he wrote in the statement. “His friends and family say that he has always been kind and helpful, and he is a true example of the Montana spirit.”
Thomas himself seems to have taken the attention in his stride. “I just thought I could help with cattle,” he told KTVQ. “Not really helping humans and stuff like that. But I’m glad I was here to help.”
“I actually started really getting into roping this year,” he added to KTVQ. “I went to brandings and started roping cattle then, and I started getting better,”
His grandmother, Sandy Thomas, added, “We come down to this campground a couple times during the summer. Jory comes over quite frequently and has never, ever brought his lariat with him before. And that day he did.”
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