Teen Uses Roping Skills to Save Man From Yellowstone River
Some stories sound too crazy to be true. And some are so big and so Montana that it’s no wonder they seem far-fetched.
Take this one, for example. A teenager uses his lasso (or rope) to pull a man out of the Yellowstone River. Crazy enough?
Of course, some media outlets will refer to it as a “lasso.” The rest of us may call it a rope, a lariat, etc. However you name it, a Montana teenager named Jory Thomas has saved a stranger by using it to fish him out of the Yellowstone River.
Thomas and his family were on a camping trip near Greycliff. When a raft and a paddleboard collided and then struck a bridge support pillar, four people went into the river. Only three swam back to shore. The fourth man clung to a cooler and was being swept away downstream. Jory quickly jumped into action. He grabbed a rope he’d practiced with for months, sprinted to the river bank, and threw the rope far enough that the man could grab onto it. With Jory pulling hard, the man was able to get to safety.
Jory did an amazing job of keeping his cool and reacting in a split second. This type of reaction isn’t something that can be learned overnight. He has spent countless hours working on developing the skills to throw a rope effectively.
I can tell you from experience that it isn't easy learning how to throw a rope. At age 15, I had a friend who worked at a very large ranch near White Sulphur Springs. That summer, he taught me how to rope. I thought it seemed simple at first. However, once I picked up a rope, I realized it wasn’t quite as simple as I imagined. Roping correctly requires a great deal of coordination, timing, and lots of practice. In fact, I got fairly good at roping, although it has been nearly 30 years since I last threw a loop. It isn't like riding a bike.
So why does Jory’s rescue impress me? Those roping skills didn’t develop overnight. Hours of practice developed those skills and helped Jory learn traditional methods that are still part of everyday life in much of rural Montana. Many Montanans learn these skills as kids to help their families work cattle, brand cattle, and compete in rodeos. For Jory, he chose to use those skills to save a person’s life.
Nice work, Jory. His quick thinking prevented what could have easily become a disaster and created a wonderful example for everyone, showing why we’re all proud to live in Montana!