Darci Dawson is a resident of Snoqualmie. She grew up in Lewistown, Mont. They currently have a family cabin in Fergus County, Montana and Darci and her family were in Lewistown on vacation at the time this incident occurred.

On 9 July, Central Montana dispatch received a 911 call from Linda Peterson advising that their 18-month-old grandson was missing and may have fallen into Warm Spring Creek. At the same time this 911 call was taken, Central Montana Dispatch received a 911 call advising them that a young boy that had been found unresponsive in Warm Spring Creek.

The caller, Cheryl Gillen, said her daughter Darci Dawson had pulled the child out of the water and was performing CPR on him. Fergus County Lieutenant Tracy Lewellen, and Lewistown Ambulance personnel responded and met with the caller and the child’s family.

Because the child was located and removed from the water quickly and CPR was started immediately, the child started breathing again and a pulse had been restored when the parties met up with the ambulance. He was transported to Central Montana Medical Center for treatment and was later flown by Help Helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Billings.

As of 13 July, 18-month-old Kaden Sluggett had recovered and was released from the hospital.

The Fergus County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge heroic efforts by Darci Dawson. Darci is an outstanding example of why it is important for us all to know how to perform CPR. I would also like to thank Cheryl and Tim Gillen, the Peterson family, Lieutenant Lewellen, Central Montana Dispatch, Lewistown Ambulance Service, and Central Montana Medical Center. Because of the coordinated effort and you all working together this incident had a happy ending.

Troy D. Eades, Sheriff

Fergus County, Montana, Sheriff’s Office