On the afternoon of July 13, an Idaho Fish and Game biologist was the right person in the right place at the right time to rescue a 10-year-old boy struggling to survive in the Selway River.

Robert Hand, a fisheries habitat biologist for the Clearwater area, was finishing a work-related float trip on the Selway River when he heard a commotion downstream on the riverbank. Hand called down and asked if they needed help. A family was calling out loudly for someone to throw a rope to their 10-year-old son, who was fighting the current and being swept downstream.

Hand knew he didn’t have much time – certainly not enough to get to a truck and get a throw rope or a flotation device. So he turned and ran downstream to catch up with the boy. Quickly assessing the situation and having no other choice, he jumped into the river and swam into the raging current that threatened to sweep the tiring young swimmer into the rapids downstream.

The 10-year-old was struggling to keep his head above water when Hand finally reached him, but Hand managed to carefully swim the exhausted boy to shore. Hand assured the boy that he was safe and stayed with him until the family could reach them.

Hand, who has worked for the fisheries department for 22 years, has seen many of Idaho’s dangerous rivers during his time with the department, but he and many other department employees undergo whitewater training to protect not only themselves but others as well.

“We are grateful that this boy was able to return safely to his family,” said Jim Fredericks, director of the Department of Fish and Game. “We also thank Robert for his quick actions and courage in assessing a dangerous situation and rescuing the boy. This is a testament to his great dedication and professionalism and we couldn’t be prouder.”

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