Georgia Teen Saves Vermont Turkey Hunter’s Life
What can only be described as a very freak accident almost cost a Vermont turkey hunter his life when he caused a 300 lb bolder to roll down on him. Jeremy Baker age 35 of Rutland Vermont was out turkey hunting with Andrew Dunsmore a teenage relative from Georgia when the accident happened.
“I was walking down a real steep part of the mountain,” Baker said in a phone interview from his home. “I stepped on a log and it let a boulder free. As I turned uphill, I could see the boulder on its way.”
The 35-year-old Baker said he never had a chance to jump free of its path.
“It got on top of my feet and knocked me over backwards. It rolled end over end,” he said.
Baker said that when paramedics arrived, “there was blood everywhere. They carried me out on a stretcher.”
As simple as that sounds getting help and leading rescuers in rested on Andrew’s shoulders and the young man did an outstanding job.
“I’d be dead,” he said. “There’s no way I could have gotten out of there. We were about a half-a-mile back in the woods.”
Baker said that Dunsmore, the son of his wife’s cousin, saved his life with his calm presence and alert response.
“He was the hero of the day,” Baker said. “He kept his composure and probably did better in a situation like that than most adults would have. He never panicked. He followed my instructions and he was a big factor in me being able to talk to you tonight.”
Baker said that, while he was certainly the victim of bad luck, it was purely good luck that Dunsmore was along for the hunt that day.
“I’ll be thankful for having him with me that day for the rest of my life,” said Baker, a field technician for Central Vermont Public Service at its Royalton office.
Bloodied and seriously injured, Baker, gave Dunsmore directions out of the woods and sent him to get help.
“Luckily, he had a cell phone with him so I had him call for help and sent him to get out on a paved road,” Baker said.
Dunsmore called Baker’s wife, who called for paramedics.
“I could hear the sirens, almost immediately after I got off the phone with my wife,” he said. “That was reassuring — knowing that help was on the way.”
Dunsmore returned with paramedics from the Regional Ambulance Service in Rutland and members of the Rutland City Fire Department about 45 minutes later.
Andrew credits training he has learned as a member of the Boy Scouts with helping him keep a cool head and being able to respond to this freak accident.
Jeremy is healing up at home and is expected to make a full recovery.
Moose
That was some story, thank god for the boy scout. They really do good things. I know my older brother made it all the way to EAGLE scout.
Thanks for sharing.
Rick
Comment by Rick — May 14, 2007 @ 12:27 am