By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A horse without a rider was noted near a vehicle early Saturday morning and concerned campers notified the Juab County Sheriff’s Office.
Later, Steve Hill, 55, Nephi, was rescued from the Mount Nebo Wilderness area on Saturday, Aug. 18, after spending the night in the canyon. He was suffering from a severely broken femur.
“We received the call at dispatch at about 8:12 a.m.,” said Alden Orme, Juab County Sheriff.
He said that it was known that Blake and Devin Garrett, local ranchers, were riding in the area because of the family cattle located there. They were contacted by Deputy Mike Tischner and the Garretts confirmed that they had seen Hill the day before.
“They said they would ride up and assist with the search,” said Orme.
The Juab County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue was activated and 17 members responded.
Hill had been known to have been riding in the Nephi Canyon area on the Salt Creek Trail in the Nebo Wilderness area, he said.
The trail can be accessed from Elk Pasture, Reeses Flats, Ponderosa Campground or Salt Creek. Therefore, searchers took various trails to see if Hill could be located on any of them.
“It was a successful and quick search,” said Orme.
He said his search and rescue team was able to respond with team members on horseback and on ATVs in a timely manner.
Before 10 a.m., Hill was located.
“Garretts, Search and Rescue team members and county deputies all arrived on top at approximately the same time and located Hill who had fallen from his horse on Friday evening,” said Orme.
Some of the Search and Rescue team were also trained EMTs and were able to begin working with Hill to assist him.
“It was deemed the best solution to call Lifeflight to the scene,” said Orme. “They are the only medical helicopter in the west that has a crane.”
Lifeflight also sent a paramedic who rappels and was able to come from the hovering craft to the ground and get Hill into the basket to be raised back into the helicopter.
A broken femur is a life threatening injury, said Orme.
The femoral artery runs from the groin down the inner leg and the femur or thigh bone is the longest, most voluminous, and strongest bone of the human body. It forms part of the hip and part of the knee
“The bone can sever the femoral artery and the victim can bleed out very quickly.”
One thing those who love horseback riding should remember, said Orme, is to never ride alone. If Hill’s horse had not returned to the horse trailer and vehicle, the outcome for Hill could have been very different.
Orme said the campers who became concerned should be thanked as should the Garretts and the members of the sheriff’s search and rescue team.
