Man dies after trying to save 8
On Sept 13, 2008 a single dad came to aid of overwhelmed rafters
BY JOE RODRIGUEZ AND DANIEL MCCOY The Wichita Eagle
A blow-up raft still sits trapped in the currents of a dam near the Argonia River Park. Dennis Rhodes died while trying to rescue the group of rafters and three Wellington firefighters who became trapped while trying to rescue them. A day after Dennis Rhodes lost his life in a rescue attempt on the Chikaskia River in Sumner County, family and friends said his selfless act typified the kind of man he was.
Rhodes, a 47-year-old native of Argonia and former volunteer emergency worker, died Sunday from injuries he sustained during a rescue attempt late Saturday on the rain-swollen river, the city's mayor said. Mayor Alan Brundage said that Rhodes was injured while trying to rescue eight people -- including three other rescue workers. The rescue had begun after five people, attempting to raft down the river, had become stuck at a dam near Argonia.
"Dennis Rhodes, as far as I'm concerned, he's a hero," Brundage said. Rhodes' sister, Tammi Florentin, said her brother was doing what he had always done, trying to help. "We know he wanted to save those kids," she said. "Dennis was just that type of guy." Florentin said her brother was the single father of a 10-year-old girl. Daren Drouhard, a longtime family friend, said Rhodes had just recently returned from a trip to Florida with his daughter. "He went over and beyond his means to be a father for his daughter," Drouhard said. "He loved her dearly."
Florentin said her brother had lived in Argonia his whole life and had become a fixture in the community. He was the owner of Rhodes Construction Co. "Everyone knew Dennis," she said. "He's our hometown hero. "I just remember him saying he was going to prove to this town that he was somebody, somebody special. I guess he did that."
How it happened:Emergency crews were dispatched to the river at about 8 p.m., said James Fair, emergency management director for Sumner County. He said that a raft used by five young adults on the rain-swollen river had capsized. One of them managed to call for help from a cell phone, Fair said, and none was wearing a life jacket.
Drouhard said he and Rhodes live about a half-mile from the dam and went to the scene after learning of the rescue operation. He added that Rhodes Construction had collaborated with B&B Construction and community members, including himself, to build the dam last year. "Dennis and I knew that river inside and out because we helped build that dam," Druid said. Brundage said that the five young people were from Wichita and were not familiar with the river, which he said authorities determined had waters rushing at more than 70 mph. "You don't float the river when it's that high," he said.
Brundage said the youths' inflatable raft "didn't have a chance," and they ended up rushing toward a dam, about ΒΌ mile from where they got in. They were hanging onto the dam when rescue workers arrived. In the rescue attempt, the boat used by three workers -- who Brundage said were from Wellington -- also capsized. Rhodes then had other rescue workers tie a rope around him while he jumped in to help. Brundage said Rhodes was wearing a life jacket. "He's a big strong man; had eight people out there stranded. He decided that he would swim up," Brundage said. "He swam out toward the center of the river, and when he got to the dam, he popped up and they could see that they couldn't keep him from going over the dam," he said. Drouhard said Rhodes came up on the other side, disoriented and looking for his glasses, He then began walking back toward the dam when "the undercurrent took him off his feet and rolled him over and over."
He was pulled out downstream from the dam, where Drouhard said he and other volunteers performed CPR until an emergency crew arrived about five minutes later. Rhodes was taken in critical condition to Via Christi Regional Medical Center, where he later died. Eventually, rescue crews from Sedgwick County were able to pull the eight people out of the water at about 1 a.m. Sunday, Brundage said. "Sedgwick County had a boat that was big enough, powerful enough... they could fight the current," Brundage said. "Speaking for the city, we want to do everything that we can do to recognize him (Rhodes) and his service, and his efforts to save those kids," Brundage said. Brundage said he later talked with the youths involved. "I know I was disappointed in them," he said.
Reach Joe Rodriguez at 316-268-6644 or jrodriguez@wichitaeagle.com. Reach Daniel McCoy at 316-268-6233 or dmccoy@wichitaeagle.com
