The group gets to Ruth in time, but as they cross the small lake back to safety, the group notices that the acidic water is eating away at metal structure of the boat.
The elderly woman ends up dying, but saving her family and the rest of the survivors in the process.
Without missing a beat, Ruth jumps in and pushes the boat the remaining few yards to the shoreline.
In Dante’s Peak a large section of the movie revolves around Harry and Rachel (and her kids) setting off to rescue her estranged ex mother-in-law, Ruth (Elizabeth Hoffman) who lives in a remote cabin near the volcano.