A 60-year-old tourist sustained severe injuries after falling 120 feet in Montana's Glacier National Park on August 13. Ken Nurse was with his wife and family when he fell near McDonald Creek Bridge while attempting to get a better view of the scenery.
According to his wife, Renae Nurse, the ground gave way under him as she had briefly returned to their car. Nurse suffered cracked ribs, a compound elbow fracture, and fluid in his lungs as a result of the fall.
Park dispatch received a report of a man falling into the creek around 11:20 a.m. A bystander, identified by Renae Nurse as Josh Seppelt, noticed Nurse facedown in the water and entered the creek to pull him to a shallower area. Seppelt immediately began CPR until Nurse began breathing again.
Park rangers arrived shortly after and stabilized Nurse. Emergency responders were then called to airlift him out of the park. Rob Cherot, assistant chief pilot for Two Bear Air Rescue, piloted the helicopter that performed the extraction. Due to the terrain, an ALERT medical helicopter could not land near the site.
Cherot described the rock area near the water as slippery. A crew member assisted Nurse, who was responsive but disoriented, into an extraction vest. Nurse was then transported approximately a quarter-mile to the awaiting ALERT aircraft on the shore of Lake McDonald. He was subsequently taken to Logan Health Medical Center, where he remained for two days on a ventilator.
Nurse regained consciousness two days after the incident and is now recovering. Cherot emphasized the crucial role the bystander played in Nurse's survival, stating, "The guy that made the decision to jump in the water and save the guy, that's the hero." Nurse expressed gratitude for the efforts of all involved, telling NonStop Local, "I owe everyone my life and I want that to be known."
Renae Nurse shared on Facebook that they were scheduled to return home on Friday, expressing her profound relief that her husband would be flying home with her. She noted that Glacier National Park remains a favorite place for the couple, and they plan to return.