Critically injured man feared his dog died in mountain crash—but it was the dog who kept him alive for the next 11 hours
Loyalty shines the brightest when it withstands the greatest challenges. Canines offer this kind of unwavering faithfulness towards their pet parents as a way of expressing their love. When 34-year-old Jake Schmitt met with a brutal accident and was thrown into the mountains, he was close to giving up, Outside Online revealed. The man had suffered unbearable injuries and even thought that his six-year-old dog, Buddy, didn’t make it. To his surprise, the canine became the hero of his story, ensuring he got a second chance at life through loyalty and determination.
Schmitt, a hunter and guide, was in his UTV (side-utility terrain vehicle) with Buddy when it tumbled down the hillside, The Salt Lake Tribune revealed. The vehicle rolled over and the man tried to jump out. “Upon trying to jump out, it started to roll and it took my body with it,” he recalled. In the unbearable sight, the car kept rolling over the man down the slope and before he knew it, he was somewhere deep, shattered, unsure if he was even alive. Schmitt tried to stand and that’s when he realized his legs were fractured. “I couldn’t see beyond my foot because it was dangling and broken,” he recalled, per Inside Edition. His ribs too suffered serious trauma.
As he tried to look around his belongings, he looked for the crate to see if Buddy was there. His worst fear crept as he worried he didn’t make it. Fortunately, the canine had escaped in time and was unharmed. He showed up, providing much comfort after the chaos. Rummaging through what was left, with blood and pain oozing out of him, the man found a roll of duct tape, which he used along with a stick to create a splint and support his legs. Knowing his way around and how things worked, Schmitt was horrified by a realization — “I have no communication. I’m screwed. I’m going to have to drag myself out, as painful as that is.”
Since he knew the directions, he was painfully aware that he had around six stream crossings before he could find help. “If you don’t know how to literally drag yourself out, then probably don’t go out there because you’re going to die,” the man remarked. Together with Buddy, he began his ordeal to safety. The darkness soon made its way and Schmitt’s only hope was Buddy’s collar light and the moon. They kept making their way through fatigue, pain, fear of animals and every other obstacle. It seemed impossible but the canine refused to leave his injured parent’s side. There were times he wanted to give up and could no longer move but his dog faithfully held on and persuaded him.
“I would pet him and then he’d go 20 feet more. And now I know he was just helping me, step by step,” he said. As they made their back-breaking journey, it was only at sunrise that Schmitt realized they’d been stranded and moving for over 10 hours. He continued with the help of his furry pal and luckily reached his truck. It must have been a stroke of luck that he left his keys in there and, with his battered body, drove to the nearest diner. He met the waitress who immediately called 911 and medics took him to a hospital. When all was said and done, Schmitt couldn’t help but recall Buddy’s companionship, which became his strength. “He’s the little man who got me out of there for sure. If he wasn’t there, I probably wouldn’t have made it mentally, spiritually,” he said.
More on Amplify
Man was severely injured while out on a hike—his dog’s one action saved his life