Tourist survives 120-foot plunge at Glacier National Park after heroic rescue
A visitor fell 120 feet into a creek at Glacier National Park and lived thanks to a bystander's quick rescue and CPR before being airlifted to hospital.
While photographing McDonald Falls in Glacier National Park, 60-year-old Ken Nurse stepped beyond a safe edge and fell 120 feet into a creek. His wife Renae was in the car and rushed back when a passerby, Navy electrician Josh Seppelt, heard the splash and dragged Nurse to shallower water, noticing he wasn’t breathing and administering CPR. A ranger nearby radioed for assistance, and a search-and-rescue team airlifted Nurse to a regional hospital.
He spent two days on a ventilator and was treated for cracked ribs, a compound elbow fracture and fluid in his lungs before moving out of intensive care. Nurse thanked the rescuers and plans to fly home with his wife.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the dangers of unsafe viewing spots and the importance of quick bystander assistance in wilderness emergencies.
In this story
