Eric Odenthal : “Moab River Rescue: Good Samaritan Saves Father & Sons”

MOAB — A witness and a Good Samaritan in Moab recounted an incredible river rescue after a father and two sons flipped their inflatable kayak and became trapped in the rushing water.

The witness who saw the entire situation credits the quick action of two men for saving the family just in time, calling it a miracle.

Heading out to the Colorado River last Thursday, Eric Odenthal took his friend Gaar Lausman up near Big Bend Campground so that Lausman could paddleboard down the river.

Having explored the river the day before in his pack raft, the outdoors guide and river expert described it as “rowdy,” with fast and cold water due to peak runoff.

“It’s enjoyable with the right gear, but very dangerous without,” Odenthal warned.

As Lausman prepared his gear, Odenthal noticed an inflatable kayak with a man and two children, aged 8 and 10, flipping over in a rapid.

“I saw the kids floating downstream, one of them struggling,” Odenthal recalled.

One of the boys was shouting for help. Odenthal observed that neither boy had suitable personal flotation devices for that section of the river.

Swift Action

Odenthal was unable to enter the fast-moving water without the right gear, but Lausman was prepared.

“I urged him to act immediately,” Odenthal said. “It was crucial to save those kids and their father. If I had my gear, I would have been in the water at the same time.”

Lausman swiftly paddled towards the kids, while Odenthal noticed the father further downstream, without a life jacket. The father had a horseshoe collar PFD that was floating away, as he wasn’t wearing it.

“The man was struggling, floating on his back, being pulled by eddies. He looked like a log in the water,” Odenthal described.

Just as the undertow threatened to pull the father under, a man on a jet ski appeared.

Divine Intervention

“It was truly a miracle when this man arrived,” Odenthal expressed.

Daniel Wright, travelling upstream alone on the Colorado River that day, initially mistook the struggling man for debris or a log before realizing it was a person. Lausman caught Wright’s attention and directed him towards the father in distress.

“He disappeared into the water, barely 2 inches under,” Wright said.

As Odenthal watched, Wright made his way towards the struggling man, who appeared to be at his limit.

“I knew I had to help them. I had to reach him,” Wright recalled.

The father stretched out his hand towards Wright, captured in a poignant photo taken by Odenthal as the man’s fingers reached out for help.

“He knew that was his last chance, reaching out to me,” Wright said.

They managed to grab each other, and Wright pulled the man to safety on the riverbanks.

“I embraced him when I got him out of the water, it was an emotional moment. We both realized what had just happened,” Wright said.

Lessons Learned

All involved were safe, although the boys were shaken and scared. The father, exhausted and barely able to move, lay on the ground.

Wright questioned why they were not wearing suitable personal flotation devices.

Grand County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue highlighted the importance of wearing proper PFDs in a Facebook post, stressing the necessity of adequate, properly-fitted devices on the Colorado River.

“The river may appear calm on the surface, but violent currents just below can be dangerous,” the post stated.

Several safety tips were provided, including staying alert to changing conditions, self-rescue techniques, and being prepared to assist others in need.

Gratefulness and Relief

While a valuable lesson was learned, Wright and Odenthal expressed gratitude that three lives were saved.

“It’s fortunate that Gaar and Daniel were there to rescue this family and give them another chance at life,” Odenthal remarked.

“I’m thankful. I believe I was in the right place at the right time, thanks to God,” Wright concluded.