Hero teen keeps dad alive in the wilderness for two days

David Finlayson and his 13-year-old son Charlie have a stronger bond now after the teen heroically saved his father from death following a terrible hiking accident.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The Finlayson father-son duo were on a two-week backpacking adventure in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Cascade, a remote part of Idaho, when David was knocked 30-feet down a mountain after a large boulder broke loose.

David jumped to avoid the refrigerator-sized boulder but was hit, leaving him unconscious with several severe injuries including a broken back. His bone was exposed on his left leg after sustaining a deep gash, but his son Charlie kept him alive for two days before hiking up alone in search of help.

"You just gotta calm down and know that if you don't, it could make the situation worse," said Charlie in an interview with KTVB. For two days, he managed to attend to his dad's physical trauma and mental stress. The eighth-grade Boy Scout kept David calm, hydrated and warm after running a mile to their campsite for supplies.

Charlie also cleaned and dressed David's wounds, saying his father lost a lot of blood the first night.

After several hours of David dragging himself over rough terrain, the duo made the one-mile trip back to their campsite. After unsuccessfully searching for possible nearby campers, David wrote a note for Charlie to deliver, explaining the situation and David's location.

Alone and afraid, Charlie hiked to the nearest ranger station, located about 13 miles away. Fortunately, he ran into two other hikers who happened to be members of their church. They set off toward David while Charlie continued along the trail until he ran into another hiker who ran eight miles and was able to call for help.

Since David was several miles into the trail, the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office called for a helicopter to airlift him to safety.

David required two surgeries with more scheduled and is still in pain but is grateful for Charlie's bravery. Katie Wilstead, Charlie's mother, said she wasn't surprised by her son's actions. "It's just who he is, "she said. "It's nothing I did. It's how he came."

Despite the close call, the Finlayson father-son team are already planning their next excursion with plans to bring a radio in case of emergencies.

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