WOOKIE
09-12-2006, 08:24 AM
Tue, September 12, 2006
Son saves dad's life
UPDATED: 2006-09-12 03:16:20 MST
Teen takes command after artery punctured
By BILL KAUFMANN, CALGARY SUN
Calgarian Gerry Clement is crediting the razor-sharp thinking and cool head of his 13-year-old son for saving his life following a bow hunting accident in the Crows-nest Pass.
Clement, 50, said he and his son Jonathan were stalking bears near the headwaters of the Oldman River on Saturday when he was accidentally stabbed in the right leg by the youngster's arrow.
He found out later the lethally sharp arrowhead had punctured his tibial artery.
"At first, it didn't seem like a huge wound, but then it pumped blood like a horror show," recalled Clement.
But Jonathan, he said, quickly recovered from his shock by pulling a sock off his dad's foot and fashioning two tourniquets.
Jonathan said he knew what to do after watching TV.
"I knew because I'd watched a show called Survivor Man where a guy's out in the wilds for days," he said.
The teen helped his dad back to their campsite 2 km away and the two decided to drive out to seek medical help.
But their pickup truck became stuck near a river and the pair decided to spend the night at their original campsite.
Jonathan built a fire both to warm his dad and attract attention.
The two spent a grim evening hoping the bleeding wouldn't get worse.
Said Jonathan: "I woke up every few minutes to make sure he was snoring."
After daybreak, Jonathan set out with their dog to find help, hiking about 5 km until stumbling on some campers.
"He went through the thick of bear country, which took guts," said the proud dad.
"The kid was an absolute hero."
Son saves dad's life
UPDATED: 2006-09-12 03:16:20 MST
Teen takes command after artery punctured
By BILL KAUFMANN, CALGARY SUN
Calgarian Gerry Clement is crediting the razor-sharp thinking and cool head of his 13-year-old son for saving his life following a bow hunting accident in the Crows-nest Pass.
Clement, 50, said he and his son Jonathan were stalking bears near the headwaters of the Oldman River on Saturday when he was accidentally stabbed in the right leg by the youngster's arrow.
He found out later the lethally sharp arrowhead had punctured his tibial artery.
"At first, it didn't seem like a huge wound, but then it pumped blood like a horror show," recalled Clement.
But Jonathan, he said, quickly recovered from his shock by pulling a sock off his dad's foot and fashioning two tourniquets.
Jonathan said he knew what to do after watching TV.
"I knew because I'd watched a show called Survivor Man where a guy's out in the wilds for days," he said.
The teen helped his dad back to their campsite 2 km away and the two decided to drive out to seek medical help.
But their pickup truck became stuck near a river and the pair decided to spend the night at their original campsite.
Jonathan built a fire both to warm his dad and attract attention.
The two spent a grim evening hoping the bleeding wouldn't get worse.
Said Jonathan: "I woke up every few minutes to make sure he was snoring."
After daybreak, Jonathan set out with their dog to find help, hiking about 5 km until stumbling on some campers.
"He went through the thick of bear country, which took guts," said the proud dad.
"The kid was an absolute hero."