Ann Curry, former co-anchor of The TODAY Show and news reporter for NBC was injured while hiking a few weeks ago and was rescued by a troop of Boy Scouts. Curry was out on a hike in New York’s Harriman State Park in April when she fell and broke her ankle.
Scouts from Troop and Crew 368 from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey just happened to be out on a training hike in the state park when they came upon Curry with her leg extended, sitting on the side of a trail. She told them she feared the ankle was broken.
“They splinted it up perfectly,” said Scoutmaster Rick Jurgens said in a blog post for Scouting Magazine. In order to transport Curry down to the base of the park the Scouts used sticks and a tarp for a makeshift stretcher and carried her to her car where her husband and son were waiting.
“We were hiking along, and we came to a trail intersection,” Jurgens said, “and a lady was sitting on the ground with her one leg out. We didn’t think anything of it, but one of the guys asked if everything is OK. She said, ‘No, not really. I think I broke my ankle.’ She told us to keep going, but the guys refused.”
Jurgens, who is also a professional firefighter and EMT, said the boys needed no prompting whatsoever from him. They sprang into action and did everything they had previously been trained to do if ever encountering a situation like this one.
“We work on these requirements, and here’s an opportunity where it was a true test of all those First Class, Second Class first-aid requirements,” he said. “They got to use it and use it for real. And they did an outstanding job.”
Ann Curry sent the Boy Scouts from Troop and Crew 368 each a personal thank you letter following the ordeal. She praised their emergency readiness, saying they went “above the call of duty.”
If you break a leg on on a mountain, I hope Boy Scout Troop 368 finds you. Boy am I glad they found me.
http://t.co/AzTWlFzNcz
— Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) May 9, 2014
“Discovering I was unable to walk, and needed to get down the mountain for medical care, you immediately set about to help,” she wrote.
“I feel enormously lucky you came along at just the right moment, and were so willing to help a stranger in need,” she added. “You are a credit to the Boy Scouts and to your families, and I want you to know I am deeply grateful for your kindness and skill.”
Ann Curry’s husband also praised the Boy Scouts. He and their son had gone back down the trail to retrieve their vehicle in order to transport her to the hospital.
“He told us, ‘You guys are the best,’” Jurgens said. “‘I don’t know what I would do without you guys.’”
Kudos to the Boy Scouts and their leader for their readiness on the trail when Ann Curry broke her ankle. Not only did they gain the experience of assisting during a real life medical situation, but they also earned the appreciation and respect of one of the finest journalists around.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
