Man rescues terrified 6-year-old from the middle of St. Louis River in Duluth

A man rescued a 6-year-old boy who was by himself in the middle of a river, and the entire heartbreaking ordeal was caught on his GoPro video.

On July 5, David Jones was fishing out on the St. Louis River in Duluth, fighting a sturgeon, when he saw a little boy stranded in the middle of the channel. The 6-year-old old, who was wearing a life jacket, was panicking and terrified.

FOX 9 is your source for breaking news, live events, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from Minneapolis-St. Paul, the greater Twin Cities metro, Greater Minnesota, western Wisconsin and across the nation. FOX 9 is the Official Home of the Minnesota Vikings and proud partner of University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Athletics.

Download the Weather app

[Just_Another_Sunday]

I wouldn't say he potentially saved his life, he definitely saved his life.

[stellamariss]

From what I was told about the full video is that the dad said he knew the child got separated from the sail boat but the dad didn’t know how to turn around… and his reaction to the man saving the boy was so odd. He acted like it wasn’t a big deal and was hoping someone would grab the kid. I believe he used the words “saved me the hassle” as if that’s all it was. I mean that kid was traumatized stuck in the middle of a cold river with strong currents and wind. That is straight up child neglect.

[TheTrueKat]

I am shocked that the father wasn’t charged with abandoning his child! No responsible parent would leave a six year old child in the middle of a river, on a 57 degree day, and expect him to swim to shore. That was absolute abandonment! I’m stunned!

[jdstep]

"Hope that he never gets put in this position again by another adult." Powerful words.

[richardletherbarrow]

I have watched the video and I'm quite frankly appalled by this boy's father and I cannot believe he isn't being prosecuted.

[vulcanraven]

6 years old, floating in the middle of a river alone and no one is being held accountable for negligence?

Hearing how scared he was when first rescued made my blood boil.

God bless you for saving this little boy.

[shirolee]

Hearing the kid's voice was gut wrenching. David Jones, you're a hero.

[Noreo]

The babies cries made me tear up 😭😭 Thank god he’s safe 💙

[jtk]

I have a 6 year old son and I could not imagine how horrific it would be for him. “No charges” WTF? Duluth prosecutor get it together!

[krysanton]

This man is amazing and how is dad not being held accountable. People get their kids taken away for a lot less. His fear of 911 being called says everything

[carlhicksjr]

So, I'm coming to this a year late. But it's never too late to recognize a man who saved the life of a stranger.
I don't suppose Mr. Jones will ever see this but in the off chance that he does, I hope he'll accept the respects and regards from an old cavalry corporal. A tip of the Stetson to you, sir.

[Jazz]

The man is a hero. He saved that child’s life.

[rayrayqbaby]

Listening to that guttural sound of fear coming from this 6 year old boy just did something to me as a mom and I can’t stop crying 😭. This is a GD horrible

[johndavis]

This guy is a hero.He definitely saved this boy's life.He was very modest saying that anyone would have done what he did.

[grandmaj]

What kind of person would put a 6 year old in a river when it's 57 degrees outside? This young man is a true hero in every sense of the word.

[divinelove]

Attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and child abuse, charge the father accordingly.

[Kristinnnnnnlaughs]

My stomachs hurts hearing him say “I just need to get to my dad” wtf man

[stephaniewright]

This is very odd that the dad “ drifted” away from his child and was not doing anything to get his child ! That father needs to seriously be charged with neglect or endangerment of a child.

[dherman]

The way he talked to the kid was perfect, calming, reassuring, not panicking.

[PeelingTheTraumasAway]

What a blessing that man was there at that time. That child was placed in his path for a reason. 🙏