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LITTLE COTTONWOOD CREEK — A Utah man is lucky to be alive after spending 16 hours in the cold, rushing waters of Little Cottonwood Creek six years ago. Thanks to a new documentary that will air this fall, his experience of survival can teach other families how to stay safe at the water’s edge.
Dean Ririe plays himself in a re-enactment of his struggle in “Fight to Survive,” whose director wants to share inspirational and miraculous stories of survival.
“That’s really the core of ‘Fight to Survive’ — to tell the stories of people who really went through something they shouldn’t have lived through,” said Gabe Torres, the director and producer of the documentary.
Ririe was fishing near Tanners Flat campground in July 2008 when he hooked a fish. He jumped from one rock to another to reel it in, and fell into Little Cottonwood Creek.
“Forces of nature took over from there,” Ririe said. “It slammed me to the bottom of the creek bed, and dragged me. I thought I was going to drown.”
A boulder pinned his foot to the river bed. After unsuccessfully attempting to free himself, he knew he was in trouble.
He shouted for help all night, and a boy collecting firewood spotted him the next morning.
Unified Fire Authority’s swift water rescuers used inflatable bags to free his foot. His body temperature when they pulled him out was 63 degrees.
It made me wonder, 'how the hell did I live through that?' because it's cold.
–Dean Ririe, documentary subject
“It made me wonder, ‘How the hell did I live through that?’ because it’s cold” Ririe said.
Rescue technicians said it’s unlikely anybody could survive in cold, swift water when trapped for as long as Ririe without a life vest and helmet. If they weren’t beaten by the raging current, they would likely die from the 38-degree waters.
The best advice is to stay back and keep small children away from the water.
“Just stay away from the creeks right now,” swift water technician Jake Harmer said. “It’s just a really dangerous time of year.”
