Man rescued from Yellowstone River

BILLINGS — A Billings man who tried to float down the flooding Yellowstone River on a log quickly ended up in the rushing water and was carried about a mile downstream before he was able to get to shore.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office located 24-year-old Rob Chapo shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday and pulled him onto a rescue boat. His friend had called 911 about 30 minutes earlier.

Lt. Kent O’Donnell says Chapo told officers he had been drinking with a friend near a fishing access when he decided to try to float down the river on a log. The log soon rolled, throwing Chapo into the water.

U.S. Geological Survey data indicated the river was discharging at 60,000 cubic feet per second and was about a foot below flood stage.