Salina police officer, bicyclist rescue teen stranded in Smoky Hill River

A Salina teenager found herself stuck in strong currents in the Smoky Hill River, but thanks to an officer and a passerby she made it home safe.

Officer Laura Falk said when she got to the river, the girl was in shock. She said the only thing keeping the girl from going downstream was rock along the river.

"I looked in her face and said, 'Hey, we’re gonna get through this. You can stand up now.' And then, I helped her physically stand up," recalled Falk.

But she wasn't the only hero.

Jeff Tibbetts was out biking with his wife when he said the girl’s friends asked him for help. He said he was afraid if he didn’t help, the girl might lose her grip on the rock.

"So, I came in from the other side and down this wall and the officer did too, and that’s where we came in and got her out," he remembered.

Tibbetts said, the girl just wanted to go home.

"And I said, 'Yeah, we’ll get you there."

Officer Falk said it's always good when everybody goes home.

"And, when everyone’s safe. So it was a win because all of us went home."