Montana teen rescues man from Yellowstone River using rodeo lasso

On July 5, 14‑year‑old Jory Thomas, a ranch‑hand from Big Timber, Montana, heard cries for help near the Pelican Fishing Access site on the Yellowstone River. A paddleboard and raft had struck a bridge, sending four people into the water; three reached shore while a man remained trapped in the current clutching a cooler.

Thomas ran to the river with a rodeo lasso, looped the rope around the man on the first try, and pulled him to safety. Sweet Grass County Sheriff Alan Ronneberg said the rescue likely prevented a fatal outcome and praised Thomas’s “heroic” actions. The sheriff’s office later awarded Thomas a certificate of achievement.

The incident received national media attention, highlighting the teen’s roping training and the quick response that saved a life.