Montana Teenager Jory Thomas Springs Into Action During River Emergency

A 14 year old Montana teenager is being praised for his quick thinking after using a rodeo lasso to help rescue a man who was struggling in the fast moving Yellowstone River.

Jory Thomas was camping with his family on July 5 when he suddenly heard cries for help coming from across the river. The teenager quickly realized that several people were being carried downstream after a watercraft accident.

“We all heard, ‘Help, help,'” Thomas recalled. “There’s two or three people floating down the river, one hanging on to the cooler, and he wasn’t saying anything.”

The incident began when a raft and paddleboard struck a bridge pillar, sending four people into the river. Three of them managed to reach the shore, but one man remained in the swift current, clinging to a cooler as the water carried him farther downstream.

Jory Thomas Uses His Lasso to Reach the Struggling Man

As the situation unfolded, Thomas immediately began looking for a way to help.

According to local news outlet KRTV, the teenager emptied his pockets, moved through a waist deep section of the river, and ran alongside the water in an effort to keep pace with the man.

The current was moving quickly, making the rescue increasingly urgent.

“This current was pretty fast then, and he was moving pretty quickly,” Thomas said. “Only thing I could focus on was helping him get out of the water because I didn’t want to see anyone go in front of me.”

Fortunately, Thomas had brought a tool with him that would prove crucial in the rescue. The teenager had his rodeo lasso nearby, something he had been practicing with regularly.

Teen’s Roping Experience Helped Save a Life

Thomas had only recently become seriously interested in roping. He explained that he had attended cattle brandings and had begun practicing with a roping dummy during the afternoons.

Montana teen puts roping skills to use and helps save a man in need. Way to go, Jory.https://t.co/dUEPh88W1t

— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) July 21, 2026

“I actually started really getting into roping this year. I went to brandings and started roping cattle then, and I started getting better,” Thomas said. “Every afternoon when it cools off, I go out and rope the roping dummy.”

When he saw the man struggling in the water, Thomas quickly reached for his 12 foot lariat. He then threw the loop toward the man as the current continued carrying him downstream.

“First instinct I thought was try and rope him and drag him out before he gets too far down the river,” Thomas recalled. “Luckily, I caught him first try.”

That single throw gave the teenager a way to help bring the man closer to safety. His experience with the lasso, combined with his ability to remain focused during a frightening emergency, proved critical.

Montana Teen Says He Believes God Put Him There

After the rescue, Thomas said he felt the circumstances had placed him at the river for a reason.

The teenager believes God gave him the opportunity and the ability to help save the man’s life when he was in danger.

“God was basically putting me in the place of all this,” he said. “God was just telling me all of this at the time and saying, ‘Go get him, you got it, and I believe in you.'”

Thomas’s actions have since drawn attention as an example of courage and quick thinking. At just 14 years old, he responded to a dangerous situation by using a skill he had been developing for rodeo and cattle work to help someone in a life threatening emergency.

His story is a powerful reminder that skills learned through everyday activities can sometimes become unexpectedly important when someone needs help most.