take the plugs out and rotate the engine BY HAND FIRST and THEN try the starter WITH THE COIL UNPLUGGED as sometimes you can damage a coil by it not being all hooked up properly
what i think the person meant by using the starting fluid to get the water out, is basically the same idea as putting rubbing alchohol (isopropyl or whatever) in the tank to soak up the water, which alcohol can do.
but i dont think they meant to run the engine with it, but simply spray it into the spark plug holes to dry things up.
and yeah you will probably have to change the oil a couple times before its back right if you didnt bend or break a rod or piston.
if the engine rotates freely though, you have a good chance you didnt break anything... but it doesnt mean you dont have a slightly bend connecting rod....