The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is thankful for the boater who saved numerous lives at a drowning incident at Lake Red Rock Friday.
Lt. Brian Bigaouette with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office says a man from south central Iowa, who does not want to be identified, leaped into action while on his boat downstream from the Red Rock Dam after a family visiting the lake found themselves under duress just off the shore.
Bigaouette says the man’s action saved many lives, although the day remains tragic due to the death of Cha Charles Lee, 42, of St. Paul, MN, who attempted to save his seven-year-old niece from drowning. Bigaouette adds that the girl was wading in waist-deep water, and stepped into a drop-off, where the currents caught her. Family members trying to rescue her stepped in as well.
He says the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is also thankful for the efforts of rescue crews from Pella, Knoxville, and Pleasantville, who spent nearly two hours searching for Lee.
The girl was last known to be Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines in stable condition, and is expected to recover.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pella Fire, Knoxville Fire and Rescue, Pella Ambulance, Pleasantville Rescue, the Pella Police Department and Marion County Emergency Management responded.