A family holiday in Montana’s Glacier National Park turned into a dramatic rescue after a 60-year-old tourist plunged about 120 feet while trying to take in the scenery.
Ken Nurse had been visiting the park with his wife, Renae, and other family members on August 13.
The group had stopped near McDonald Falls to take photographs around 11am when the outing suddenly became an emergency.
Renae had returned to their vehicle to warm up when the ground beneath her husband gave way.
Nurse Plunges Into the Water
Nurse fell near McDonald Creek Bridge and landed in the water below, suffering serious injuries.
His wife later said the family initially had no idea what had happened until they realised he was in the creek.
The 60-year-old suffered cracked ribs, a compound fracture to his elbow and fluid in his lungs as a result of the fall.
Park officials received an emergency report at approximately 11.20am concerning a man who had fallen into the creek.
Stranger Sees Nurse and Jumps Into the Creek
The situation could have ended very differently had a nearby visitor not acted immediately.
A bystander spotted Nurse lying face down in the water and went into the creek to reach him.
The man managed to pull Nurse by his foot towards shallower water before discovering that he was not breathing.
He then began performing CPR.
Renae later identified the rescuer as Josh Seppelt and praised him for making the decision to enter the water when Nurse’s life was in immediate danger.
According to Renae, Seppelt’s daughter alerted him after seeing Nurse in the water, prompting the rescue attempt.
CPR Helps Keep Nurse Alive
Seppelt continued CPR until Nurse began breathing again.
A nearby ranger was also able to respond quickly and radio for additional assistance, setting the wider rescue operation into motion.
Rob Cherot, assistant chief pilot for Two Bear Air Rescue, said his crew received an encouraging update during their approximately 30-minute journey to the scene — Nurse was breathing and had detectable vital signs.
The bystander’s intervention had already bought the injured tourist crucial time.
Difficult Terrain Complicates the Rescue
The terrain around the accident site presented another major challenge for emergency crews.
An ALERT medical helicopter could not land directly at the scene because of the surrounding conditions.
Rescue personnel instead had to reach Nurse in the water and prepare him for extraction.
Cherot said the rocks around the creek were particularly slippery.
A member of the rescue crew entered the water wearing an extraction vest and reached Nurse, who was responsive but appeared confused and did not understand what had happened.
Helicopter Crew Finds Tourist Seriously Injured
Although Nurse was alive, his condition was visibly serious.
Cherot said he saw extensive bruising and bleeding, along with what appeared to be a severe fracture.
The rescue team secured Nurse and hoisted him from the difficult location before moving him roughly a quarter of a mile to the ALERT aircraft waiting near the shore of Lake McDonald.
From there, he was flown for further medical treatment.
Nurse Spends Two Days on a Ventilator
Nurse was transported to Logan Health Medical Center following the rescue.
The injuries from the fall required significant medical care, and he spent two days on a ventilator.
Remarkably, he regained consciousness two days after the accident and has since been recovering.
His wife said the family is now preparing to return home after what had been an unexpectedly traumatic week.
Rescue Pilot Credits the Stranger
While the helicopter rescue attracted attention for its dramatic nature, Cherot was quick to direct praise elsewhere.
He said the aviation crew’s role may have looked impressive, but the hardest and most important decision was made by the stranger who entered the water before professional rescuers arrived.
Cherot said the person who decided to jump into the creek and attempt to save Nurse was the real hero.
His intervention was particularly important because Nurse had stopped breathing before CPR was started.
Nurse Says He Knows He Was Lucky
Nurse has since spoken about his survival and acknowledged how close he came to dying.
“I’m doing pretty good considering,” he said, adding that he was feeling stronger and taking his recovery one step at a time.
He also recognised the extraordinary circumstances that allowed him to survive the fall.
Nurse said he believed he should not have survived and wanted to do whatever he could to make himself worthy of the efforts made by the people who saved him.
Family Plans to Return to Glacier
Despite the frightening experience, the Nurse family has not been put off the national park.
Renae described Glacier National Park as her “happy place” and said its beauty and peacefulness continue to draw her back.
Reflecting on the irony of the accident, she joked that the park had taken her husband’s breath away — before the rescuers gave it back.
The family is now scheduled to fly home after Nurse underwent surgery and continued his recovery.
A Grateful Wife Looks Ahead
Renae later posted an emotional update saying she was immensely grateful that her husband would be able to make the journey home with her.
She said she could not imagine living without him and thanked everyone who had helped the family during the ordeal.
The past week had been difficult, she acknowledged, but the successful rescue and Nurse’s recovery had given the family reason to be thankful.
What Happens Next?
Nurse faces a period of continued recovery following his serious injuries and surgery.
For his family, the ordeal has also highlighted the importance of the strangers and emergency workers who acted quickly when the accident occurred.
The actions of Seppelt, the responding ranger, medical personnel and the Two Bear Air Rescue crew all played roles in getting Nurse out of the remote and difficult terrain alive.
Summary
A 60-year-old tourist survived a 120-foot fall at Glacier National Park after plunging into a creek during a family visit.
Ken Nurse suffered multiple serious injuries and initially stopped breathing, but a stranger identified as Josh Seppelt pulled him from the water and performed CPR until he began breathing again.
Rescue crews later hoisted Nurse from the challenging terrain and transported him to hospital, where he spent two days on a ventilator before regaining consciousness.
Now recovering, Nurse has expressed profound gratitude to those who saved him, while his wife says the family intends to return to the park despite the terrifying experience.
