The Rescuers

Local teens help save two who nearly drowned at NIC beach

COEUR d’ALENE — When Garrett Leonard heard someone was in trouble just off the dock at North Idaho College, he ran to help. He looked into the clear waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene and saw a motionless body about 12-feet down at the bottom. The 15-year-old dove in. He grabbed the lifeless male by the shirt and pulled him to the surface. “I thought he was dead,” Leonard said Wednesday. “It was the scariest moment of my life.” The teenage boy survived, along with another teen who nearly drowned Tuesday afternoon at the NIC beach. At least one, believed to be underwater for about three minutes, was likely saved by the actions of several people who responded, including four local teens. Craig Etherton, inspector with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, said that because both males quickly received CPR, it probably saved their lives. “I think so,” he said.