In a remarkable survival story, an Alaska man emerged with only minor injuries after being pinned face down in an icy creek by a 700-pound (318-kilogram) boulder for three grueling hours.
The harrowing event unfolded during a hike near a remote glacier south of Anchorage, where Kell Morris encountered a precarious situation.
Thanks to the quick thinking of his wife, Jo Roop, and a dose of luck, Morris was able to stay alive during the frightening ordeal.
While waiting for rescuers to arrive, Roop held Morris’s head above water to prevent him from drowning after the boulder crashed onto him.
Their stroke of luck continued when a sled dog tourism company operating on the glacier overheard a nearby 911 dispatch and offered its helicopter to assist with the rescue, as the site was inaccessible by all-terrain vehicles.
Once help arrived, a team of seven men employed inflatable air bags to lift the massive rock off Morris, who was drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the rescue process.
Morris, 61, expressed gratitude for his survival, stating, “I realize I am probably the luckiest man alive. And luckier that I have such a great wife.”
Morris and Roop relocated to Seward, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) south of Anchorage, from Idaho last fall when Roop accepted a position with the local police department.
On the day of the incident, the couple decided to avoid the crowds that flood Kenai Peninsula during holidays, leading them to hike on an isolated and undeveloped trail behind a state prison, as noted by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites.
The trail, however, turned out to be a rocky creek bed sprinkled with enormous boulders left by the glacier.
Morris was cautious of large rocks weighing up to 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) lining the creek bank, but he eventually encountered a section where he could not navigate past safely.
“I was coming back and everything, the whole side slid out from under me,” Morris recounted.
Things became hazy for Morris as he tumbled down the embankment, approximately 20 feet (6 meters), landing face down in cold water.
The boulder struck his back in what Crites described as “basically an avalanche of boulders.”
Morris’s fall positioned him on top of other smaller rocks, which helped support the weight of the boulder and prevented him from being crushed.
Despite this, Morris felt a wave of intense pain radiating from his left leg, anticipating the worst as he waited for his femur to snap.
“When it first happened, I was doubtful that there was going to be a good outcome,” Morris admitted.
Roop, determined to free her husband, tried for about 30 minutes to roll the boulder off Morris, wedging rocks beneath it for support.
Realizing the need for professional help, she walked about 300 yards (274 meters) to find a cell signal and successfully dialed 911, using her law enforcement background to provide precise GPS coordinates to dispatch.
A volunteer at the neighboring Bear Creek Fire Department, who was working for the sled dog tourism operation, heard the emergency call and diverted a helicopter to assist.
Even with a helicopter arriving, firefighters faced challenges, unable to traverse the boulder field using their all-terrain vehicles. They instead opted to jump out of the helicopter to reach the scene.
Morris, by this point, was experiencing hypothermia due to the glacial water, while Roop continued to hold his head above water.
Crites remarked, “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.”
Once on scene, firefighters utilized two air bags typically reserved for vehicle extrications to slightly elevate the boulder.
The rescue soon devolved into a collective effort of brute strength, as Crites described, “one, two, three, push,” allowing seven men to lift the boulder enough to pull Morris free.
After being rescued, an Alaska National Guard helicopter airlifted both Morris and the firefighters from the creek bed using a rescue basket.
Morris spent two nights in a local hospital for observation but left with no critical injuries.
Crites expressed disbelief, stating, “I fully anticipated a body recovery, not him walking away without a scratch on him.”
Now back at home, Morris reflects on his ordeal, calling it a potential wake-up call regarding his adventurous pursuits at his age.
Acknowledging the danger, Morris remarked, “We’re going to stop the trailblazing,” as he and Roop plan to stick to established trails during their future hikes.
image source from：https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/700-pound-boulder-pins-alaska-man-face-glacier-122329833
