27 October 2008
Meritorious Skiing
Posted by admin under: recognition .
Chelsea Duncan at the News Review lets us know how Stephan Stewart saved the life of his fellow on the wintery slopes.
“I was the first one down there so I know that he didn’t beat me, because I’m a really fast skier,” Stewart, 17, said. “… I knew there was something wrong.”
…
That day on the slopes, Stewart retraced his tracks. Soon, he heard Hade yelling for help. On his way down the side of the double-black diamond slope, the snowboarder had lost control on the ice and crashed into a tree.
Stewart spotted Hade and tried to reach him. Nearly meeting the same fate as his friend, Stewart slid about 25 yards past the injured snowboarder before leaning into the mountain for a hard stop.
He grasped a tree as he took off his skis, then used his boots to cut steps into the side of the mountain. The slope was too steep and slippery to walk up, one of the many harrowing details his proud mother, Dawn Thompson, says she wishes she didn’t know.
When Stewart reached his friend, he saw that Hade was showing signs of possible shock and hypothermia — shivering, disorientation, clammy skin. Hade had been there for about an hour; he’d injured his wrist and leg.
“My main concern was just getting him out,” Stewart said. “I thought about going and getting help, but I didn’t want to leave him alone.”
The two had strayed too far from the main run to see fellow skiers, so Stewart cut more footings into the mountain and helped Hade slowly scoot sideways. Finally, Stewart spotted the Ski Patrol and yelled for help.
Lowering a sled down the nearly 80-degree slope, the rescuers reached Hade and carried him to safety.
“It was really cool to watch,” said Stewart, who hopes to turn his passion for skiing and his Scouting experience into a part-time Ski Patrol job.
McCullough said Stewart may have saved Hade’s life, and commends the teen’s display of character.
Stephen has earned the BSA Medal of Merit for his actions. I think that will look pretty good on his application to the Ski Patrol.
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