A man in Alaska has a group of strangers to thank for saving his life after he got pinned in freezing, turbulent whitewater rapids.
Video shows a daring rescue from bystanders who teamed up to save Daniel Hartung, who was kayaking in Six Mile Creek, Alaska, on Aug. 12.
The man who filmed the rescue said he thought he was going to witness someone dying that day.
“The man was in the water for a long time. And this is Alaska, the water is very cold. You could tell he was getting tired, his head was going in and out of the water,” James Bennett told Global.
Bennett, who is a freelance writer, was attending a local kayaking event, and was situated on the other side of the river armed with his camera to snap kayakers in action.
That’s when he noticed Hartung coming down stream, in regular clothing and a recreational kayak.
“I could tell immediately that he was in trouble. He hit a rock and the kayak flipped.”
Hartung then was pushed down the stream and got pinned in the rocks. At that moment, Bennett turned his camera off and yelled for help before turning his camera back on.
A group of strangers came together to help Hartung. Video shows a group of people give Hartung a rope to hang on to. They try to pull him out, but as time passes, Hartung gets weaker and weaker.
“Eventually he let go of the rope and fell down over into the river. He was underwater for 45 seconds. I thought I was witnessing someone dying at that particular time,” Bennett said.
At that point, another man named Obadiah Jenkins decided to jump into the water, to grab Hartung.
This moment was a do or die situation, Bennett said. If Jenkins didn’t succeed, Hartung would have lost his life.
When Jenkins jumped in he was pushed by the current right into Hartung’s body, knocking him free from the rocks.
Hartung popped up unconscious and was floating free. He was pulled out of the water.
He suffered a broken rib and many bruises, but Bennett said he is doing well.
Bennett, Hartung and Jenkins are meeting for a reunion dinner on Saturday, their first meeting since the incident. Bennett says the reunion will feel blissful.
“I think it will be one of those rare and genuine moments in life. Daniel and Obadiah are two of the most humble and kind people I’ve come across in a while.”
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