Miracle as hiker survives being pinned facedown by 300kg boulder for three hours
Kell Morris has his wife Jo Roop to thank as she held his head above water to prevent him from drowning when the boulder crashed onto him during a hike in Alaska, US
A hiker somehow escaped unscathed after he was pinned facedown into an icy creek by a massive boulder for three hours.
Kell Morris was trapped when the boulder weighing 318kg - around the size of an American-style fridge freezer - crashed onto him during a hike near a remote glacier. He credits his wife Jo Roop for saving his life as the woman held his head above water to prevent him from drowning during the ordeal on the weekend.
The 61-year-old man drifted in and out of consciousness as seven rescuers lifted the massive boulder off him. They were only able to reach the rambler when a dog sled tourism company which operates on the glacier overheard the 911 dispatch and offered up its helicopter to assist in the operation.
Speaking today, somehow nursing just minor injuries, Kell said: "I was very lucky, and luckier that I have such a great wife. God was looking out for me... When it first happened, I was doubtful that there was going to be a good outcome."
Kell and Jo decided to hike near Godwin Glacier near Anchorage, Alaska on an isolated and undeveloped trail behind a state prison. Their trail was actually a rocky creek bed lined with large boulders deposited by the glacier.
They managed to dodge several large boulders until they reached a particularly hazardous spot. Kell, originally from Idaho, said: "The whole side slid out from under me." He tumbled down the embankment about 20 feet (six metres), landing face down in the water.
Kell landed under rocks, in between his legs and around him which caught the weight of the boulder, preventing him from being crushed, the fire service said. However, the huge rock still had him pinned, and Kell felt intense pain in his left leg and waited for his femur to snap.
Jo, who works for a police department in Alaska, tried to free him for about 30 minutes, putting rocks under the boulder and trying to roll it off him, before she left to find a mobile phone signal. She managed to get signal, and relied on her law enforcement experience to send exact GPS coordinates to dispatch.
Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites praised Jo and the support from the dog sled firm. He added: "I think if we hadn't had that private helicopter assist us, it would have taken us at least another 45 minutes to get to him, and I'm not sure he had that much time."
Kell was battling to prevent hypothermia when the rescuers used brute force to haul the boulder off him. An Alaska National Guard helicopter lifted them out of the creek bed with a rescue basket. The hiker spent two nights at the local hospital for observation but walked away unscathed. Mr Crites said: "I fully anticipated a body recovery, not him walking away without a scratch on him."
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