A father and his two young sons were rescued by heroic passersby after their kayak overturned in a Utah river. Gaar Lausman and Daniel Wright, both from Moab, saw the 40-year-old man and his sons, ages 8 and 10, fall into the water when their kayak flipped over while sailing along the Colorado River last Thursday. Lausman immediately jumped on his paddle board to rescue the boys who were drowning after becoming trapped by their floatation devices.
The 8-year-old boy had a life jacket that was too big for him, causing him to struggle to stay afloat, while the 10-year-old boy had a waist device that flipped and left him face down in the water. Lausman was able to pull both boys onto his paddle board, but was unable to reach the father who had his life jacket on his lap when the kayak overturned. Daniel Wright, who was jet skiing in the river, rushed to help and was eventually able to reach the father who was struggling in the water.
Wright described being terrified as he saw the man’s head only partially out of the water and went under a couple of times before he was able to reach out and grab his hand to pull him out of the river. The father and his sons were safely transported to shore and did not suffer any major injuries, declining help from an ambulance. Lausman and Wright were praised as heroes by the sheriff’s office, although Wright humbly stated that they were just in the right place at the right time and anyone would have done the same in that situation.
The quick actions of Lausman and Wright saved the lives of the father and his sons, who were in immediate danger after their kayak overturned in the river. Despite the challenges posed by the boys’ floatation devices and the father’s struggle in the water, both men were able to act swiftly and effectively to ensure that all three individuals were rescued safely. The father and his sons were fortunate to have the assistance of these brave passersby who risked their own safety to help those in need.
The rescue serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared and staying alert when engaging in water activities, as accidents can happen quickly and unexpectedly. The father and his sons were fortunate to have experienced individuals like Lausman and Wright nearby when they needed help. The community has hailed these two men as heroes for their selfless actions, but Wright remains humble, believing that anyone would have done the same in that situation. The story of the rescue highlights the power of human kindness and the willingness of individuals to step up when others are in need.
