Ryan Blair helped save a boy from drowning in the Au Sable River, Mio, Michigan, August 1, 2024. The boy, 17, struggled to stay afloat in turbulent water emerging from the powerhouse of the Mio Dam. A friend swimming with him tried to pull him from the water while another friend called 911. Blair, 36, on-duty deputy sheriff, drove to the scene, ran to the river, and dived in. He swam about 100 feet to reach the boy, who grabbed Blair and dragged him under multiple times. Blair wrapped a rescue disc rope around the boy and, holding onto the end of the rope, towed him toward the end of a concrete pier, submerging several times as the boy fought to keep his head above water and the rope became entangled around Blair’s legs and arms. Near the pier, a fisherman and two firefighters in wadable water formed a human chain to pull Blair and the boy to shore, where Blair performed sternum rubs to revive him. The boy was taken to a hospital and treated for symptoms related to near drowning. Blair was treated at a hospital for inhaling water and near drowning. He was off work for two weeks while he underwent breathing treatments. He recovered and returned to duty.
2024-0000283-10554Ryan Blair
Fairview, MI