EMT rescues father-in-law from drowning

A stay-at-home mother came to the rescue Friday. 

Erika Larsen, a 38-year-old volunteer with Olney Fire Department, saved two boaters' lives Friday morning.

Larsen, who has worked as an emergency medical technician and ambulance coordinator for one-and-a-half years, responded to Dog Lake at 10:20 a.m.

Two victims had been in the water for about an hour clinging to life jackets and a boat after the boat they were riding in overturned. Larsen jumped into the water and swam to the first victim, a 62-year-old man.

At that point, she realized she was rescuing her father-in-law, Tom Larsen Sr.

"I was surprised," Erika Larsen said.

Two young men, Matt McCulloch and Caleb Schroetlin, from the PFR Pottersfield Ranch arrived on scene in a canoe at that time also. One of the men jumped into the water, put a life jacket on Larsen's father-in-law and swam him to shore.

Meanwhile, Larsen swam to her father-in-law's friend, an 84-year-old woman, and got her on a kneeboard. The other man in the canoe gave Larsen a rope and towed them to shore.

Larsen Sr. recovered from the incident without medical treatment, but the woman was transported by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The woman should be released today, Erika Larsen said.

Authorities were notified about the incident after a third person who was with the couple, the 84-year-old woman's daughter, swam to shore and found some loggers nearby. One of the loggers called 911.

Two Whitefish Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene just as the victims were rescued, Larsen said. She was also assisted by two members of the Olney Volunteer Fire Department, Larry Thornsberry and Veronica Morehead.

This is the first time Larsen has saved someone's life. She received eight months of swift water rescue training from the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department after she started as a volunteer with Olney Fire Department, she said.

Larsen said she just finished home-schooling her two sons, Schuyler, 18, and Clayton, 17, who recently graduated.

Kathaleen Krass, who retired as Olney Fire Department's ambulance coordinator just before Larsen came on, had some kind words for her replacement.

"She has spent multiple hours doing many different types of training, and in particular, her time spent with Evergreen Fire and their fine team has brought forth great fruits. They took her to a swift water training a few months ago, and the effects of the training were evident in her leadership..." Krass said in an e-mail to the Inter Lake.

Larsen said her husband, Tom Larsen Jr., thanked her for saving his father's life.

"He's proud of me," she said.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.