7 days ago
Alaska man pinned by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours walks away unharmed
The Brief
Kell Morris was pinned by a 700-pound boulder during a glacier hike near Seward, Alaska.
His wife held his head above the icy water for three hours while rescuers raced to the scene.
A helicopter, inflatable air bags, and seven firefighters helped save his life.
A hike near a remote glacier in Alaska nearly turned deadly for a couple trying to avoid the holiday crowds. Instead of a quiet outing, they found themselves in a life-or-death rescue when a 700-pound boulder pinned 61-year-old Kell Morris facedown in a frigid creek.
His wife, Jo Roop, a retired Alaska State Trooper, kept his head above water while waiting for help. It took a private helicopter, rescue air bags, and seven firefighters to finally free him after three grueling hours.
The backstory
The couple had moved to Seward from Idaho last fall. Wanting to avoid Memorial Day weekend crowds, they chose a less-traveled path near Godwin Glacier, behind a state prison. Instead of a marked trail, they followed a rocky creek bed filled with massive glacial boulders.
As Morris tried to make his way back, the entire bank gave way, sending him tumbling about 20 feet. "The whole side slid out from under me," he recalled. He landed in the creek, and a boulder came crashing down on top of him.
Fire Chief Clinton Crites described it as "basically an avalanche of boulders."
Miraculously, the way Morris fell allowed smaller rocks to support the boulder's weight, sparing him from being crushed. Still, he was pinned, injured, and in excruciating pain as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
What they're saying
Morris' wife tried for 30 minutes to move the rock before leaving to find a cell signal. Thanks to her law enforcement background, she quickly provided precise GPS coordinates to 911.
Rescuers received an unexpected boost when a nearby sled dog tourism company diverted one of its helicopters to help. Firefighters were flown in after their all-terrain vehicles couldn't reach the site.
"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," Crites told the Associated Press.
The team used air bags usually meant for car extractions to shift the boulder, then lifted it manually with a coordinated push. Morris was airlifted out by the Alaska National Guard and spent two nights in the hospital—remarkably, with only minor injuries.
"I fully anticipated a body recovery, not him walking away without a scratch on him," Crites said.
What's next
Morris says he's done with trailblazing. He and his wife plan to continue hiking—but only on established trails from now on.
"I was very lucky. God was looking out for me," he said.
The couple expects to head back outdoors this weekend, but with a renewed respect for the risks of Alaska's wilderness.
The Source
This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press, which interviewed Kell Morris and Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites following the May 25 rescue near Godwin Glacier in Alaska. Additional details were shared by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and through public statements from rescue personnel involved in the incident.
