Patrick Flanagan saved Steven M. Riedle from falling, Fort Benton, Montana, September 11, 1989. Steven, 8, fell from the crest of a 300-foot-high butte that formed the south bank of the Missouri River. His fall broken by the steep face of the butte about 225 feet above the river, Steven called for help as he clung to sparse vegetation. From his yard across the river, Flanagan, 47, elementary school counselor, saw Steven fall. He drove to the base of the butte and hiked up its gradually sloping flank to the crest; then, at a point closer to Steven, he began to descend. Despite treacherous footing the result of shale and loose soil composing the butte, Flanagan traversed its steep face several hundred feet to Steven. After reaching him, Flanagan grasped Steven by the belt and positioned him in front of him, then carefully guided and pushed Steven up the face of the butte to a point near its crest. An arriving deputy sheriff extended his belt to them and pulled them the remaining feet to safety. Steven recovered from minor bruises.
65628 – 7614
65628-7614