Woman Floating In River Alive Thanks To Denver Man
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CB$) - The heroic actions of a Denver man are now being recognized after a woman was spotted floating and apparently lifeless on the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs in May.
Lyle Phetteplace just may have been in the right place at the right time, according to Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallar.
"He placed himself in harm's way to save the life of a woman he didn't even know," Vallar said.
The water was much higher in May when the woman not wearing a life vest and barely breathing floated by.
"He raced toward the river, his only thought being was,' She's in the river and needs help,'" Vallar said.
While other bystanders watched helplessly from the banks, Phetteplace ran down with his kayak, eventually plucking the passed out woman from below the white water.
"I don't know why I stepped up out above and beyond on that day, but when you have somebody in the water, we've all taken a swim -- had a bad day -- and wished somebody was there," Phetteplace said.
It's not surprising to people who know Phetteplace -- his day job is training others on river safety. The lifesaving award is the first ever given to a civilian in Garfield County.
"Your quick thinking and expedient response to the situation directly contributed to prolonging human life," Vallar said.
The woman he saved has since recovered.
