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Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Alaska man survives 3 hours pinned face down under a 317kg boulder
In an image provided by emergency responders, Kell Morris lies trapped under a 317-kg rock at a creek near Seward, Alaska, on May 24. PHOTOS: JASON HARRINGTON-SEWARD FD/NYTIMES Kell Morris does not remember exactly how he started tumbling or how he ended up on his stomach, but he remembers when a 317.5kg boulder hit his back – the jolt of pain it caused as it pinned him down, and how instantly he knew he was in trouble. Mr Morris, 61, said it was a 'beautiful, beautiful day' on May 24 in Seward, Alaska, where he lives with his wife, Joanna Roop. The pair decided to hike near a remote glacier more than 190km south of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. They had been looking for a spot to cross a creek when the earth holding a group of boulders gave way. Mr Morris said he tried to almost surf the sliding gravel but lost his footing and tumbled down. 'The next thing I know, I'm face down in the creek and you can still hear these rocks,' he said. Ms Roop, 61, also heard that distinctive sound. She ran to the area of the slide, calling for her husband but there was no answer. When she saw him, Ms Roop said, it felt like the situation went from 'worse to worse'. Trapped under the massive boulder, Mr Morris was just about holding himself out of the cold glacier water that feeds the creek. 'We kind of assessed that I'm not going to last long in this cold water,' Mr Morris said, and he sent his wife with both their cellphones off in search of a signal. After walking around 270 metres, Ms Roop connected to a 911 dispatcher. Rescue crews from several agencies, including the Seward Fire Department and the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department, mobilised. But the extreme terrain of the area meant progress was slow. Then, a Bear Creek volunteer who works for Seward Helicopter Tours heard the 911 dispatch call. The volunteer and a pilot offered to pick up six firefighters and take them to where Mr Morris was pinned. Rescuers found Mr Morris suffering from hypothermia and wavering in and out of consciousness, face down in a creek with the boulder on his back, and Ms Roop holding his head out of the water, the Seward Fire Department said in a news release. Rescue crews used air bags, ropes and 'brute force' to free him, the department said. After he was warmed up, Mr Morris 'became more alert, and his vitals improved,' the department said. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
61-year-old man survives being pinned down by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours in Alaska creek
A 61-year-old Alaska man is expected to make a full recovery after he ended up being pinned down by a 700-pound boulder while lying on his stomach in an Alaska creek, authorities said. The incident occurred last Saturday just before noon when the Seward Fire Department was contacted for a rescue in the Fourth of July Creek to reports of a '61-year-old male pinned by a boulder in the creek,' according to a statement from the Seward Fire Department. MORE: 6 gray whales have died in San Francisco in the past week as authorities scramble for answers 'The patient was found lying in the creek on his stomach with an approximately 700 lb. boulder on top of him with his spouse holding his head out of water,' authorities said. 'The patient was hypothermic and in and out of consciousness.' Officials did not say how the boulder came to be on top of him or why it ended up pinning him down in the creek in the first place. MORE: Tourists at beach house find human remains dating back 200 years Seward Fire and Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corp responded and requested assistance from Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department, according to the Seward Fire Department, and responded to the scene on foot, by ATV and helicopter. 'One of Bear Creek FD Volunteer's works for Seward Helicopter Tours and heard the call while working and he and a pilot volunteered to respond to the scene and pick up six firefighters via helicopter and transport them to the patient, thus cutting down 45 minutes of travel time,' officials said. 'The patient was in a boulder field and the helicopter could only hover while firefighters had to jump from the helicopter to the ground as the helicopter could not land safely.' MORE: Black bear found sitting on stove inside home after crashing through ceiling Crews used air bags, ropes and 'brute force' to lift the boulder off the patient and pull him to safety, authorities said. 'Once out of the water, the crew re-warmed the patient, and he became more alert, and his vitals improved,' Seward Fire Department said. Officials determined there was not an effective or safe manner to bring the patient down the canyon, so they contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center for assistance and they were able to hoist the man out of the canyon and take him to the ambulance that was waiting nearby. MORE: 3 climbers dead after falling off mountain while rappelling The 61-year-old man was subsequently taken to Seward Providence Hospital and authorities said he is expected to make a full recovery with no life-threatening injuries noted. 'It is no doubt that without the help from Seward Helicopter Tours this incident could have had a much different and potentially fatal outcome,' said the Seward Fire Department. 'It is community members and businesses that we work so well with that make our jobs easier and more productive.' 61-year-old man survives being pinned down by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours in Alaska creek originally appeared on
