Chaffee County Sheriff’s Department Honors Eagle Scout for Saving the Life of a Stranger

Aug. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Vail, CO- The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Department has recognized Scott Larson with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Citizen Citation for Distinguished Service Award for his heroic efforts in saving a man’s life while hiking outside of Salida, Colorado.

On June 18, 2011, twenty-one year old Scott Larson was completing his descent down Mt. Antero, when he was stopped by Rick Denton to help save his friend’s life.   Denton and the victim, Jim Taylor, 69, were riding separate ATV’s when a snow bank caused Taylor’s vehicle to overturn, pinning him underneath the vehicle in the freezing creek below.  Together, Larson and Denton were able to lift the vehicle off Mr. Taylor and remove him from the stream.  

Once on land, Mr. Taylor lost and regained consciousness and was suffering from exhaustion and the initial effects of hypothermia.  Larson began treating Mr. Taylor for hypothermia and immediately drove him down the mountain where they could call 911 and meet the ambulance.  The EMT and deputy sheriff agreed that if Larson had not been at the right place at the right time and reacted the way he did, Mr. Taylor would not have survived.  

“I feel incredibly lucky and blessed that I was there when I was and had the knowledge and preparedness that I did from my training as an Eagle Scout.  From the immediate terror and shock that something like that was actually happening, to the ability to react, to the humble pride that you take in success from a situation like that, it's beyond words. I thank God that I was there”, states Larson.

Larson advises others to “Be prepared, because you never know when those little things you learned in Scouting will come in handy”.  Larson is forever grateful for the life lessons learned in Boy Scouts that transpired into saving a man’s life.  

Larson humbly accepted the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Citizen Citation for Distinguished Service Award in Salida on August 27, 2011.  He was joined at the ceremony by Rick Denton, who also received the award, Jim Taylor, and his family.

Scott is a senior at Denver University, living in Vail for a summer internship at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.  For a more detailed account of Scott’s heroic story, please refer to his blog: http://lavitabella.travellerspoint.com/12/

Contact:
Cali Adkisson
970-790-6167