Jason Oglesbee pulling Patricia Ralph-Neely from the Des Moines River
Heroes almost never see themselves as being heroic. They simply see someone in need of help or lifesaving, and they simply react.
Often at great risk to their own lives.
There’s just something in some men that allows them to walk towards danger while others are either running away or standing by helplessly.
Whatever that something is, Des Moines construction worker Jason Oglesbee has it. In spades.
Going Over the Dam
Earlier today 60-year old Patricia Ralph-Neely and her husband went over the Center Street Dam on the Des Moines River.
Patricia got caught in the turbulent hydraulic caused by the water sucking back on itself at the base of the dam. There is almost no way to escape this powerful suction on your own.
Rescue workers tried and failed several times to rescue Mrs. Ralph-Neely as she was sucked under the water repeatedly. She was getting battered by the falling water, and it was apparent to onlookers and rescuers that she probably couldn’t hold on much longer.
Rescued
Thankfully for Mrs. Ralph-Neely, a nearby construction crew had a crane that could reach across the river to where she was trapped.
Even more lucky for her was the fact that one of the construction workers, Jason Oglesbee, was already wearing a safety harness.
With almost no time to consider the danger to himself, Oglesbee was hooked up to a chain dangling from the end of the crane and hoisted out over the dam to rescue Mrs. Ralph-Neely.
Jason Oglesbee attempting to save a drowing woman
Sadly, her husband, who was not wearing a life vest, was later pulled from the river after drowning.
Go here to watch a video of the rescue. And more pictures here.
Reluctant Hero
Asked later by a reporter if he had volunteered for the rescue, Oglesbee humbly stated, “I happened to have the harness on, see. That’s all I want to say.”
Mr. Oglesbee initially declined to be interviewed by reporters, but reluctantly gave a brief statement:
They just harnessed me up and dipped me down in the water and I grabbed her and drug her — the crane drug her — to the boat and that’s it. What are you going to do if she’s like that? It’s no big deal. The whole crew did it. So that’s all I want to really talk about or have to say. You know, my supervisor…they all did a good job.
Then he went back to work.
You’re right, though, Mr. Oglesbee…it wasn’t a big deal. It was a huge deal. And while you might think that anybody else would have done the same thing if they were in your shoes…you’d be wrong.
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Great job! Well done, fantastic. greetings and all the best to the both from cologne germany, christoph
Angels come in all shapes, sizes, colors and professions.
God Bless this brave man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing! He is the absolute definition of “a man”! I reach my hand to his to honor him.
Jason, are you married?! Men like you are so hard to find. I would drive four hours to meet you!!
Thank God for this Man! I hope life smiles in his favor for the rest of his life.
Outstanding!
It’s unfortunate her husband perished, but Mrs. Neely was indeed lucky to have such a brave man nearby, with a crew of men that didn’t hesitate to help someone in danger.
I’ve gotten caught in a hydraulic on the Guadelupe river, and there is a method to get out, but only if you don’t get your head bashed on a rock first.
Man, I’m amazed she made it. My friend told me a horrible story about seeing two young men in a rubber raft go over a small damn. They got sucked under by the whirl pool. One kid came up and was hanging onto the over turned raft. The other kid, who had drowned, had some kind of vaso constriction — I don’t know what the medical term is but I’ve seen it before. The head is all blue and purple. It’s not a pretty sight. The dead kid kept popping up from the water and being sucked down again. He would appear in front, under, behind the kid hanging on and under the raft. The kid who was alive was terrified and kept screaming “get it away from me.” Worse, it was his best friend. Finally, some boaters came buy and ferried my friend across the river and she walked to the highway and flagged down a car to go for help.
A true quiet hero. Jason for President!
She had to be exhausted and couldn’t do much to help him. All he had was one wet, slippery, arm to hold on to. Not an easy rescue.
A breathtaking rescue by a true and humble hero — and a REAL MAN. Well done . . . very well done, indeed, Mr. Jason Oglesbee.
My condolences to Mrs. Ralph-Neely (and to the Ralph-Neely friends and family) for the loss of her husband. After such a traumatic experience, I hope she has a large number of family and friends who will surround her with love and support at this time.
This is such a bittersweet story. Thank you, Jason, for the “sweet” part of such a “bitter” tragedy.
He’s Hott!
pulitzer prize just awarded for photo of HEROIC RESCUE in des moines Ia by JASON OLGESBEE