07/14/09

KAMIAH, Idaho (AP) _ Two Idaho County sheriff's deputies dove
into the Clearwater River Friday to save a 2-year-old girl being
whisked away by the cold, swift water.

Two-year-old Kayla Ladd of Kamiah was spotted floating in a life
jacket under the Kooskia bridge after a day at the beach with
family.

An older child had pulled her further into the river and Ladd
was caught in the current.

Lt. Doug Ulmer and Deputy Carlos Martinez arrived at the scene
just before 7 p.m.

The youngster was blue, cold and had water in her lungs when
Martinez reached her in the river.

Fredrick Ladd, the girl's father, had been at work when the
accident occurred and feared the worst until he arrived to find his
daughter safe.

He told the Lewiston Tribune, ``I was told she drowned.''

___

Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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