Man Rescued from Fall at Glacier National Park

A visitor at Glacier National Park in Montana survived a dangerous fall with the help of a quick-thinking bystander. The individual, Ken Nurse, was at the park with his wife, family, and friends during the incident.

According to Two Bear Air Rescue, a search-and-rescue organization based in Montana, Nurse fell from an overlook on August 13 and slipped over a series of waterfalls. The situation was critical.

The bystander saw Nurse face down in the water. Recognizing the danger, the bystander entered the creek, moved Nurse to shallower water, and performed chest compressions as Nurse was not breathing.

Ken Nurse’s wife, Renae, explained to NonStop Local Montana that the group had paused for photographs near McDonald Falls. When Renae returned to their vehicle, Nurse approached the cliff for a better look. The ground gave way beneath him, sending him approximately 120 feet into the creek.

Glacier National Park rangers assisted Nurse in the creek as Two Bear Air Rescue arrived. Video footage of the rescue shows a crew member descending from a helicopter to secure and lift Nurse from the water.

Nurse was then transferred to a medical helicopter for transport to a hospital. The rapid response from the bystander and rescue team played a crucial role in Nurse’s survival.

After sustaining multiple injuries, including cracked ribs, a compound elbow fracture requiring surgery, and fluid in his lungs, Nurse spent two days on a ventilator. Despite these injuries, he expressed immense gratitude to those who saved him.

“I owe everyone my life and want that to be known,” Nurse emphasized, highlighting the lifesaving efforts of those involved.

Ken Nurse’s son also expressed gratitude on social media, thanking the rescue team for their successful efforts in rescuing his father.