Posted on 08/30/2015 2:12:56 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A 13-year-old put his Boy Scout training to the test and helped rescue his father after he was hit by a refrigerator-sized boulder during a backpacking trip in Idaho last Monday.
A week into what was supposed to be a 12-day trip at Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, a large boulder fell on David Finlayson, 52, knocking him down 20 or 30 feet, NBC affiliate KTVB reported.
The elder Finlayson broke his left arm and leg. He also started to lose blood because of gash in his shin.
“At first I was freaking out a little bit, but after a few minutes I kind of calmed down and thought, ‘I have to help him out,’" Charlie Finlayson told KTVB.
Charlie, who just started 8th grade, ran one mile back to their camp site to get a first aid kit and sleeping bag to keep his father warm. The next day Charlie cared for his dad who dragged himself back to the camp.
Charlie checked nearby campsites for other hikers, but no one was around. The son and father decided Charlie would hike back 13 miles alone to get help. David wrote a note for Charlie to take with him.
“I cannot walk so I need a rescue, unfortunately," the note read. "Please help Charlie find one for me."
On the hike back, Charlie ran into three members from his Mormon church who went and took care of his dad. Charlie also saw another man on the trail, who helped call authorities, according to KTVB. A helicopter airlifted David to a hospital, where he got two surgeries and will need more.
Charlie’s mother, Katie Wilstead, said she was not surprised by her son’s actions.
“It’s just how he is,” she said. “It’s nothing I did. It’s just how he came.”
Charlie said he and his father are planning another camping trip, but that this time they’ll be sure to bring a radio.
This is a fantastic story!! Experienced parents often say, you should not worry about being ‘a friend’ to your child, just be a leader. However, I’ll bet this father is thrilled that his son cared enough about him to save his life and guide him that long way back to their campsite.
What an amazing kid. And an amazing dad to drag himself a mile with a broken arm and a broken leg. Ouch.
AM FM ?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EGD8YC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Don’t leave home without ‘em.
Thanks for the links! I would also recommend to have a red shirt or a red bandana handy in case you need to signal a helicopter.
Excellent advice. I’m going to add a red bandana to my kit when I go hiking.
I’m 80, but never hike alone.
God bless you, Sir, for continuing to stay active.
Just added pneumothorax chest seal, decompression needle, CAT tourniquet, Quik Clot Combat Gauze and Celox plunger.
All of those things are in our medical kit.
L
Good.
Got the chest seal from Chinook Medical. A medic friend of mine recommended it. Nice little kit.
I recall a month and a half ago the local news saying that the local P.D. was requesting funding for Military-Grade torniquets for the cruisers for dealing with heroine overdose situations... and the price was “Military-Grade”... a couple hundred bucks a pop. I was like, “Uh... your uniform has a belt, use that.”
Mine is an H&H. Got it and the Celox plunger on Amazon. Don’t like to shop there but the price was right. Decompression needles from NatSafe and the combat gauze from the local Army Navy store for a good price.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.