Spokane man honored for saving Cd'A teen

COEUR d’ALENE — On a crowded July afternoon at City Beach, with scores of people swimming and splashing in Lake Coeur d’Alene, Taylor Powell spotted one person in trouble. 

A young man, about 40 to 50 feet from shore, was struggling to stay afloat. No one else seemed to notice.

“He had his hand up and then he went under water. He came back up and I heard, ‘Help, help.’ Then, he went back under,” Powell said. 

She turned to her husband, Dave Powell. 

“He needs help,” she said. 

Dave Powell didn’t hesitate. One thought went through his mind: Get out there.  

He grabbed his daughter’s circular floatie and began swimming. Within about 30 seconds he was there. He reached the man floating face down and said “grab this” as he pushed the floatation device into his arms, and then pulled him to shore. 

On land, the exhausted young man collapsed, vomited water but recovered. 

Capt. Jake Beiker of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department said Powell displayed a “tremendous amount of courage” and likely saved Lorenz Ludwig’s life. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind he changed the possible outcome that day,” Beiker said Tuesday after Dave Powell was presented with a Lifesaving Award “for Outstanding Performance and Heroic Lifesaving Actions" at the Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting. 

The 18-year-old Ludwig thanked Powell for rescuing him. 

He said he’s about to start college, and if not for Powell, “I might not have had that chance. I don’t get to go be my own person or do what I’m passionate about.” 

"I still have my life," he said.

Ludwig was with friends on a four-seat watercraft in the water farther from shore July 6 when he had to leave for an appointment.  

“Can you swim back?” a friend asked 

Ludwig thought he could.

“Typically, I’m an OK swimmer,” he said. 

But he hadn’t gone far when his legs started cramping up and he began to flounder. He tried to float so he could catch his breath but couldn’t and slipped under water. 

He resurfaced briefly.

“I couldn’t figure out which way the beach was, which way was up,” he said.  

Ludwig raised his hand and called out, hoping someone would notice.  

“I needed someone to come help me,” he said. 

One did. 

On the beach, Powell and others checked on Ludwig.

“Are you OK?” 

First responders arrived and checked on Ludwig as he sat in the shade, completely drained. Later, his sister drove him to a medical center, where it was determined Ludwig had water in his lungs. 

He was sore and tired for a few days before regaining his strength. Tuesday, he said he was happy to be alive. 

“I’m really grateful,” Ludwig said.  

Powell, of Spokane, said he was glad he was there and appreciated the recognition.

“I’m mainly glad he’s OK,” Powell said. “He can go pursue his dreams.” 

Colton Powell, Dave’s 10-year-old son, was proud of his father. 

“He's brave for going out and doing something like that,” he said. 

Beiker said because it generally takes first responders a few minutes to reach a scene, it’s great to have people like Powell around when someone is in trouble.

With a smile, Beiker also credited Powell with listening to his wife.

“She noticed someone was struggling and needed help and he took action," he said.