Good Samaritan Overhears Police Scanner, Rescues Woman In Duluth

DULUTH, MN — A good Samaritan listening to a police scanner rescued a woman after she attempted to drown herself in a northern Minnesota river, authorities said. On Aug. 13 at about 8:40 p.m., the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Blackmer Park in Duluth for a report of someone drowning in the St. Louis River.

A short time later, emergency personal arrived on scene and observed a female approximately 100 yards off shore floating on her back. A good Samaritan, later identified as Noah Vanriper, overheard the emergency on a scanner and rushed down to the river.

Vanriper advised an officer on scene he was comfortable going into the river to rescue the swimmer and did so, authorities said. The patient was alert and talking with emergency personal once back on shore and transported to a local Duluth Hospital for what appear to be non-life threatening injuries, according to a news release.

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Deputies later learned that the 52-year-old Duluth women who's name is currently being withheld was attempting to commit suicide by drowning.

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