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CENTERVILLE, Utah – A 19-year-old is safe with his family Sunday after spending a night alone in the mountains above Centerville.
Mason Bakker and his father, Albert Bakker, went hunting Saturday morning. The pair separated in the morning. By 10 a.m., Albert said Mason called him to say he was heading back down the mountain. At noon, Albert said Mason called again and sounded distressed.
“He sounded agitated and he wasn’t doing too well. He gave me some clues of where he was,” Albert said. “He said, ‘I see some water. I’m going to try and get some’ and that’s the last I heard of him.”
They just happened to come across him and one of our search crews was within a quarter-mile and actually heard the calls for help.
–Chief Deputy Ty Berger,Davis County Sheriff’s Office
Search and rescue teams from across northern Utah responded and searched the mountain until nightfall. They headed back out at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. While those search and rescue workers were on the mountain, hunters stumbled across Mason.
“They just happened to come across him and one of our search crews was within a quarter-mile and actually heard the calls for help,” said Chief Deputy Ty Berger of the Davis County Sheriff’s Office.
Berger said Mason was cold, wet, and exhausted. He had a minor injury to his hand and his legs were scratched up from bushwhacking through thick brush.
“He was by himself and the terrain was more difficult. He said there were a lot of big drops in the canyon that he had to negotiate,” Albert said.
Safe and doing well. Mason has be reunited with his mom. pic.twitter.com/nszrphh0IJ
— Davis County SO (@DavisCountySO) September 30, 2018
Mason was taken to Lakeview Hospital to be checked out. His father said it was a huge relief to see him there.
“It was great. Just a relief. Just was wonderful,” he said.
While Mason recovers, they can plan their next trip together.
“I asked him if he was done hunting and he said no, but it might be a couple weeks,” Albert said.
