A 14-year-old boy became an unlikely hero on July 5 when he used his lasso to rescue a drowning man near the Yellowstone River in Greycliff, Montana. Jory Thomas was camping with his family when he heard screams for help coming from across the river. Four individuals had been thrown into the fast-moving water after a raft and paddleboard collided with a bridge pillar. While three people managed to reach the shore, one man was still drifting downstream, holding onto a cooler.
Thomas sprang into action, running through a waist-deep side channel and successfully throwing his 12-foot lasso. "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 told KTVQ. His initial instinct was to rope the man to pull him to safety before he drifted too far. "Luckily, I caught him first try," he added.
He then pulled the man toward the shore until first responders arrived. Thomas, who has been practicing roping on the ranch where he grew up, mentioned that he had only recently started focusing on roping, practicing with a dummy every afternoon. "I just thought I could help with cattle," he said. "Not really helping humans and stuff like that. But I'm glad I was here to help."
Thomas's grandmother, Sandy Thomas, noted that her grandson had never brought his lariat to the campground before that day. His father, Jase Thomas, expressed his concern for his son's safety during the rescue but acknowledged that his son "got it done." The Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Office honored Thomas with a Certificate of Achievement last Tuesday, commending his swift intervention. Sheriff Alan Ronneberg stated, "Had Jory not acted, I believe the chances of this individual not making it to shore were very slim." He further added, "Jory saw another in trouble and acted, not for himself but for another. He didn't pull out a phone, but a lariat. He didn't watch what was happening but intervened."