Teen tried to rescue friend

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 22, 2006 | by Ben Winslow Deseret Morning News

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON -- Jeremy Davis clutched Nikki Bernhisel's hand for as long as he could.

"I got a hold of her, and I was screaming at all my friends to help," the 17-year-old boy said as he stood shivering near the raging waters of Big Cottonwood Creek early Sunday morning. "But that river is death."

Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies said 15-year-old Bernhisel, of Bountiful, drowned after falling into the swift waters Saturday night. Davis and a 17-year-old girl jumped into the water after her, injuring themselves. Davis managed to pull himself out, deputies said. Search and rescue teams later plucked the 17-year-old from the river's bank.

Friends said Bernhisel was part of a group of 11 people who were going rock climbing Saturday night in an area called "The Slips" near the Storm Mountain area of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

"It's a great rock climbing area," Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Paul Jaroscak said. "To access it people often string ropes across the river. One rope you walk on and one that you steady yourself with."

People who want to go rock climbing in "The Slips" must cross the 15-foot-wide, swift moving waters of Big Cottonwood Creek.

Jessica Wallace and Sarah Larsen crossed the water with Bernhisel.

"I went across and we were fine, but she was all nervous about it," Larsen said as she wiped tears from her face. "Jeremy went to get a harness for her, but she decided that she just would do it. She panicked in the middle."

Wallace said all they could do was watch Bernhisel fall into the water.

"She was holding onto the top ropes and her feet slipped from underneath her," she sobbed.

Davis waded into the water after her, grabbing onto a stick with one hand -- and Bernhisel with another.

"I was yelling at my friends to come help," Davis said. "I had to finally let go, and we went down the river."

The 17-year-old friend waded in after them. Davis said he heard her screaming as she was swept downstream.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group went for help. Larsen said they put on harnesses and went back -- one by one -- over the churning waters. Wallace ran into the road and flagged down help.

"We stopped a car and said, 'Could you find the police?' They ran down and got them and brought them back towards us," she said.

Deputies said the 17-year-old girl managed to make it out of the water, on the other side of the creek. Swift water rescue teams used ropes and a stretcher to bring her 15 feet across the raging river to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to University Hospital to be treated for an injured leg.

"This water is going fast. It's cold. These people that did go in and got out -- they're very, very fortunate," Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Bertram said.

Davis said he went downstream about a mile before catching himself.

"I was going down, and I caught hold of a stick and held on for a while," he said. Davis said he chipped a tooth and was cold but otherwise OK.

Police said the teens should not have tried to be heroes.

"This could have easily been three people dead," Jaroscak said. "I know it's instinct, and it's the noble thing to do to try and jump in to save someone. But don't try and jump in yourself."

About 50 rescuers from several different police agencies in the Salt Lake Valley responded to help in the search for the teens. As swift water rescue teams moved up and down the banks, a Department of Public Safety helicopter equipped with infrared and a spotlight moved up and down the canyon, trying to spot the missing girl. Big Cottonwood Canyon was closed for several hours because of the rescue.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, rescuers recovered Bernhisel's body.

Bertram said Big Cottonwood Creek is at its peak of runoff this week and conditions are deadly. Just hours after the deadly accident, the Deseret Morning News spotted more people crossing that same rope bridge to get to "The Slips."

"The water conditions are just treacherous. There really is no reason to even be near this water right now," Bertram said.

Wrapped in a blanket, Davis was consoled by his friends and family at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Staring off, he recounted the last moments that he saw his friend.

"I just saw her, I couldn't hold on to her and I let go of her," he said. "I saw her float away. I tried to go after her, but it was too much."

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com