Three 14-year-old Weber County Boy Scouts treated for advanced hypothermia were released from the hospital Saturday, following a helicopter rescue from the Great Salt Lake on Friday.
According to a hospital spokesperson, Nathan Barrow, Michael Bowman, and Tyler Meibos, all of West Warren, Weber County, were discharged in excellent condition.The trio was hoisted from the frigid waters of the Great Salt Lake by a helicopter from Hill Air Force Base late Friday after their canoes capsized near Promontory Point in western Box Elder County.In all, six Scouts in three canoes encountered difficulty in the gusting winds. One Scout, Shawn Knight, was able to swim to shore unassisted. Two others were pulled from the lake by 16-year-old Scout Trent Bartruff.
"There were nine of us out there, all together, plus our leader, " said Bartruff, adding the group planned a trip to Fremont Island. "The wind got bad and we decided not to go. Those guys (the six) stayed out."
After the canoes capsized, Scout leader Gary Barrow tied ropes to Bartruff, who went into the water wearing a life jacket.
"There were poles out there, old dock posts, in three rows. Our leader hung onto the ropes and I got John Armstrong out. When I got to Brad Rogers, he was exhausted," said Bartruff.
"He said, `I can't make it,' and I told him, `You've got to do it.' He started slipping by, so I grabbed him," Bartruff said.
Held up by life vests, Barrow, Bowman and Meibos remained in the water and drifted 700 to 800 feet from shore.
Ten search and rescue team members and five scuba divers from the Box Elder sheriff's office were summoned to the lake shortly before 4 p.m., responding to a call from a Scout on shore with a cellular phone.
A short time later, the helicopter from Hill was also dispatched. Directed by ground contacts, the chopper's five-man crew arrived midway between Fremont Island and Promontory Point about 5 p.m.
Aboard the helicopter were pilot Capt. Steve Kelley, co-pilot Lt. Scott Graham, fight engineer Terry Smith, flight surgeon Lt. Col. Aaron Barson, and para-rescuer Senior Sgt. Alan Manuel.
"Initially the boys were difficult to see, especially with the setting sun," said Manuel.
The helicopter hovered 10 to 15 feet above the waves, long enough for Manuel to jump in next to the boys.
Hovering 100 feet above the water, a penetrating cable, a device for victims to sit and be strapped on, was lowered.
"The one young man, Tyler, could say his name, but just barely," said Manuel. "The other young boy was very hypothermic. They were both quite cold and very glad to get out of there.
After being pulled into the helicopter by Smith, the boys, who had been in the water 11/2 to two hours, were immediately taken ashore. Treatment was started by Barson and sheriff's personnel, who removed the Scouts' wet clothing, wrapped them in sleeping bags and blankets, and provided body heat.
The chopper returned to the lake a second time to retrieve Manuel and search for Barrow.
This time, the sergeant was lowered into the water on the cable. He swam to Barrow and secured himself and the boy to the penetrator.
"We returned to shore just long enough to dry the Barrow boy off, then loaded them and flew as fast as we could to McKay-Dee, about 15 to 20 minutes away," said Manuel.
The boys are very lucky, Manuel said.
"These guys were starting to get seriously hurt. They were to the point where they couldn't help themselves. It was very fortunate they had on life preservers."