Bear Lake sheriff credits bystanders for saving woman’s life in boating accident
Jul 16, 2026, 6:00 PM | Updated: Jul 17, 2026, 12:20 pm
Bear Lake County Sheriff Bart Heslington is pictured in Paris, Idaho, on Wednesday. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL)
(Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL)
PARIS, Idaho — The quick actions of some bystanders are being credited with helping save the life of a woman who was seriously injured on Bear Lake Saturday. Bear Lake County Sheriff Bart Heslington said their quick response made all the difference.
“There’s not a doubt that those efforts saved her life,” Heslington said. “And my understanding is that at least two of those people were either healthcare professionals or had some medical training and some medical equipment with them.”
One of those bystanders, Dan Taylor, spoke with KSL Tuesday, explaining that he happened to have two tourniquets with him and had just recently received some emergency response training.
“I know that there were people involved that are unsung heroes,” Heslington said of all the bystanders who responded. “After other care came, they just went about their business. You know, they weren’t standing there looking for the recognition.”
Bear Lake County Sheriff Bart Heslington is pictured in Paris, Idaho, on Wednesday. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL)
Heslington said he’s confirmed that a GoFundMe* has been set up that is connected to the woman’s family. According to information on the page, she is a mother of three and has already had three surgeries, but continues to recover. Heslington’s office is still working to determine what went wrong Saturday, leading to the accident. In the meantime, he urges people to use caution while on the lake.
“Wearing a life jacket, wearing a helmet, wearing seatbelts and shutting boats off when we’re putting people in and out of the water, taking care about where we’re operating and what’s in proximity and those kinds of things, they’re hugely important,” he said. “We’re having fun, and sometimes we lose focus, and some of those things slip a little bit. So my message would be to just always remember those risks are there.”
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
