A man named Ken Nurse survived a dangerous fall at Glacier National Park with the help of a quick-thinking bystander. The incident occurred as Nurse was visiting the Montana park with his wife and friends, according to a report by NonStop Local Montana.
Nurse fell from an overlook near McDonald Creek, going over a set of waterfalls on August 13. Two Bear Air Rescue, a helicopter search-and-rescue team based in Montana, responded to this emergency.
A witness bravely entered the creek after noticing Nurse lying face down. They moved the injured man to shallower waters and began performing chest compressions when they noticed he had stopped breathing, as detailed in a Facebook post by the rescue organization.
Ken Nurse’s wife, Renae, recounted to NonStop Local Montana that the group paused near McDonald Falls to take pictures. She returned to the car to warm up while Nurse went closer to the edge for a better view. Unfortunately, the ground collapsed under him, causing a 120-foot fall into the creek.
Park rangers were already attending to Nurse when the Two Bear Air Rescue helicopter arrived on the scene. A crew member was lowered from the helicopter to reach Nurse, securing him for transport from the water. He was then flown to a medical helicopter for stabilization and hospital transport.
The bystander’s swift actions were crucial in saving Nurse’s life. The Two Bear Air Rescue team praised the lifesaving intervention in their post.
After the fall, Nurse was placed on a ventilator for two days. He sustained multiple cracked ribs, a compound fracture to his elbow needing surgery, and fluid in his lungs.
Nurse expressed deep gratitude to everyone who helped him, saying, “I just want everyone who helped me out to get the things they deserve. Because I should not be here right now. I owe everyone my life and I want that to be known.”
Nurse’s son also expressed heartfelt thanks to the rescuers on Facebook, commending their bravery and efforts.