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VERNAL — A trained specialist on the Wasatch County Search & Rescue Team happened to be enjoying his day off in the outdoors of Uintah County when he heard someone in the distance yelling for help.
As the 52-year-old man was being lifted by hoist into the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter hours later, he must have known he was going to be okay.
However, he was only rescued because Brad Allen wanted to get away from it all.
“We were trying to figure out where we could go where there’s not a lot of people. That’s why we chose Jones Hole,” said Allen.
Jones Hole, in Uintah County, is a great place to camp, and visit the fish hatchery. Because of its remoteness, Allen knew it would probably be empty, even on Memorial Day weekend.
That’s why he was surprised when he heard someone yelling in the distance.
“We thought he was calling his dog for a minute,” said Allen. “And it was actually, credit goes to my dad who is 81, who said ‘I think he’s saying help.’”
Allen and his sons went to check it out.
“We ran out to this little point that overlooked the canyon. I yelled out, ‘Are you okay,’ and he yelled back, ‘No’,” said Allen.
It’s a good thing Allen is a lieutenant with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team, because immediately, his training kicked in.
“As soon as my son got back with my climbing gear and my splinting stuff, he said that he couldn’t feel his legs,” said Allen. “I gave him some water and a Coke because he might have been in shock.”
A Utah man who had fallen while climbing in a remote part of Uintah County is fortunate. A Wasatch County Search and Rescue team member was camping nearby and heard his calls for help. @UtahDPS chopper was brought in to hoist the man to a hospital. @KSL5TV at 6:30. #ksltvpic.twitter.com/gxhX1fWshT
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 26, 2020
The man was climbing in a remote area and had fallen. Trees and vegetation braced his fall and prevented him from falling further.
He passed out when he hit the ground, but regained consciousness and started yelling for help. It was just a short time later when Allen and his sons arrived.
“(I) sent my son to go get help and told him we’re going to need a high angle team to evacuate this person and a hoist if we can get one,” said Allen.
That’s where the helicopter came in with their hoist, as well as the Uintah County Search and Rescue team.
They were able to get the man to a Grand Junction, Colorado, hospital. Considering how remote the area is, if not for Allen and his family, there’s a chance the man would still be there.
“He was blessed to have us be right there at the right time. We did what anybody else would have done, is to try and help him and call for help,” said Allen.
Allen said training search and rescue teams is vital. Since most are volunteers, he also credited managers of businesses who let employees have time off to train and to go on calls.
In this case, his training paid off.
“I do it because I love it, and because it’s a service to the community,” said Allen. “We’re very fortunate here in Utah that the public has collectively placed a value on search and rescue teams, and allowed us to do the job.”
