Family Who Plunged Over Dam Thanks Rescuers

What was supposed to be a fun summer raft trip on the seemingly placid Deschutes River in Bend quickly turned life-threatening Wednesday when a mother and her two children were pulled by strong currents over the Colorado Dam spillway.

On Thursday, the Redmond mother described what led to the near-drowning and expressed gratitude for everyone who helped in the rescue.

“We were getting sucked into the spillway,” said Erin Bell-Taylor. “It happened so fast. I was like, ‘Dear God, please protect my babies! Please protect my babies!'”

Thankfully, river-goers and rescue crews rushed to the scene and pulled the young family from the rushing river, and the threesome was saved.

“I’m a little sore,” said the mother of four. “I have bruises all over, But I’m just grateful that all of us are alive.”

The family walked away with a few bumps and bruises. The are recovering from what Bell-Taylor calls one of the scariest moments of her life.

“If my baby didn’t have a life vest on, she’d be dead,” said Bell-Taylor.

The two youngest children, Giorgi and her son, who the family calls “big guy,” were floating in a raft when the current suddenly became strong.

“I had these plastic oars, and I broke one because I was paddling so hard,” said Bell-Taylor. “No matter what I did, I could not venture to the left.”

Bell-Taylor jumped out of the raft and her kids followed suit. The water became too strong. She tried to hang on to the metal bars underneath the bridge, then her two children were swept away from her in the turbulent water.

“I thought she was underneath me drowning,” Bell-Taylor.

The kids went tumbling through the rocks, but help was nearby. Off-duty Sunriver firefighter Brandon Mallea was in the area and jumped into action.

“You know, it’s just what we’re taught,” said Malea. “You’re always on duty, even if you’re not wearing a uniform. It was a great experience to get out and help somebody, even on my day off.”

Another river user, Cody Custard, saw the family slipping away. He tried to swim after them, but it was too late. He ran to the other side and spotted Giorgi.

“I was relieved,” said Custard. “Seeing that happen to little kids, that was a scary thing.”

Now that the family is back together, Erin and the older siblings say they can’t believe how lucky they truly are.

“It was pretty much all in God’s hands,” said older sister Autumn. “He’s the one that pretty much made all of us be together again.”

“I am just so grateful that people cared enough to help,” said Bell-Taylor. “I mean, my babies are alive because of these people.”

With summer just kicking off, rescue crews say they don’t believe the family’s rescue will be their last of the season. There are many advocates fighting for a safer way for floaters to have fun on the river, and many say it can’t come soon enough.