Summer Ballentine

A good Samaritan jumped into a swollen White River on Saturday afternoon in Noblesville and saved a mother and her young child from drowning, officials said.

The unidentified mother and her two children were playing on the riverbank near the covered Potter’s Bridge at about 1:24 p.m. when one child fell into the river, said Rick Russell, division chief for the Noblesville Fire Department.

The mother’s instincts kicked in, Russell said, and she jumped in after her child. Her other child jumped into the water shortly afterward to offer help.

Both children are of elementary-school age, he said.

Witnesses told firefighters that the fast-flowing river swept the first child four to five feet from shore within seconds.

Heavy rains had raised the water level at least 4 feet, Russell said, and it topped 6 feet in some areas.

“Even if the water’s just elevated 1 inch,” Russell said, “it becomes very powerful and could quickly pull a person under.”

One of the children was able to grab onto a low-hanging tree to wait for rescuers.

The other child and mother were floating downstream when David Norton, Cicero, leaped into the river and pulled them safely to shore.

Norton, age unknown, and his family had been walking nearby when they heard the screams for help, Russell said.

His wife called 911 as Norton fought the current to grab the child and mother in his arms.

By the time Norton reached them, Russell said, the river had pulled the pair 50 to 60 yards downstream.

Hamilton County Sheriff deputies, Noblesville police and firefighters grabbed the other child who was still clinging to the tree.

No one was seriously injured, Russell said. The family and Norton were treated at the scene and released.

The Indianapolis Star could not reach Norton for comment. He left the scene and told firefighters he planned to go home and try to relax.

Russell advised throwing a rope, stick or other object to try to pull someone from water before risking a jump in to rescue them.

The White River’s strong currents drowned an Indianapolis teenager earlier this year. Police pulled 13-year-old Micah Strong’s body from the river May 31, several hours after he slipped off the bank and fell into the river near the 1100 block of Kentucky Avenue just southwest of Downtown Indianapolis.

Russell cited Norton’s heroism in preventing a similar tragedy in Noblesville.

“If it were not for the actions of David Norton,” Russell said, “the outcome of today’s incident could have had a tragic outcome.”

Call Star reporter Summer Ballentine at (317) 444-6125. Follow her on Twitter @esballentine.