Mynor Recinos was on his riverside patio fishing when he spotted the girl in trouble and swam nearly 60ft to save her

A fisher in Oregon used a rope, his lifelong swimming skills and quick thinking to rescue a girl who fell off a jet ski and into the Columbia River from drowning, according to witnesses. Now, people are calling for the local government to formally recognize him as a hero.

The dramatic scene unfolded Wednesday off Hayden Island, when Mynor Recinos was on his riverside patio fishing and spotted two girls in lifejackets who had fallen off their jet ski in the face of a large wave.