From Deseret News archives:

16-year-old Uintah boy is critical after near drowning

Published: Friday, June 20, 2008 12:04 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
A 16-year-old Uintah County boy is in critical condition at a Salt Lake-area hospital following a near drowning in an irrigation canal.

Uintah County Sheriff's Lt. John Laursen said it appeared that Ryan K. O'Driscoll of Tridell and another juvenile were swimming on Wednesday afternoon in a canal that feeds Steinaker Reservoir after sliding down a concrete flume.

Laursen said O'Driscoll was caught in an undertow and was unable to free himself. Attempts by the other juvenile to pull O'Driscoll from the water led to that youth being pulled under and almost drowning. Employees of the Uintah Water Conservancy District heard screams for help and responded from the head gate of the canal. Laursen said while one employee returned to the head gate to slow the water flow, another entered the water, and a third employee held on to a rope securing the employee in the water.

The employee in the water pulled the second teen out of the water to the canal bank, then returned to the water and was able to rescue O'Driscoll. Water district employees started CPR on O'Driscoll, who was transported to Ashley Valley Medical Center in Vernal before being flown to Salt Lake for further treatment.

Laursen said this is the second near-drowning incident in Uintah County in recent weeks.

Recent comments

I'm so sorry about Ryan and my prayers are with the family. My...

Gene | July 8, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.

Bob, Ryan was taken off of life support Friday at 12:45 P.M. and...

Ryans Aunt | June 22, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.

Those water company employees are heros who saved two lives at risk...

Bob | June 20, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

BYU panel calls for morals in movies

How about movies with no characters arguing and everybody is always happy and...

Few details on missing W.V. mom

so so so sad

Pitta doesn't win award

Really? How? The numbers prove that Pitta is a better tightend than...

Boozer coming through on a few occasions does not make up for all the time he...

BCS did TCU a favor?

One correction. The Utes won the duel last year, thumping the cougars. I...

Just keep the field green.

Lousy football team, they lack heart, their fan base is marginal at best and...

BYU panel calls for morals in movies

...you're not fooling anyone. You're simply a troll.

What, clearplay doesn't work for PG movies?? Just keep pretending that...

I'm sorry, but if any of you feel like any other coach could/would do a...

Advertisements