Pecos first responders honored for saving hiker struck by lightning

PECOS, N.M. – Two Pecos ambulance responders will receive a national award after rescuing a hiker struck by lightning in the Santa Fe National Forest.

The rescue happened last year after a call came in from the wilderness near Pecos with limited details and only coordinates.

“The information was very limited. It was just lightning strike and some coordinates,” Forrest Tracey said.

Tracey and paramedic Maison Hooten said calls in the Santa Fe National Forest often start that way, and they knew they would have to hike in without cell service and without knowing much about the patient.

“Information we had is the wilderness. We knew we’re going to have to hike, but we didn’t know anything about the patients. There’s no cell service up there,” Tracey said.

What did they face?

“What I’m thinking of is more of the patient side and what equipment we might need up the trail,” Maison Hooten said.

The crew also had to account for travel time before the hike. They gathered gear at the station, got extra help and then headed out with three vehicles before starting up a narrow trail.

“It took us well over an hour and a half to get to the trailhead,” Tracey said. “We had three vehicles: a state police officer, a fire engine, tender truck, or something, and then the ambulance.”

After hiking for about 90 minutes, the responders found Wyatt Parker, who said he waited in pain and cold after the strike.

“It was a couple hours until they got there. I remember being in a lot of pain, and I remember being really cold,” Wyatt Parker said. “I remember feeling like I got hit by a car.”

Parker said the strike caused his heart to stop. He said his friend performed CPR and used a satellite phone to call for help.

“It caused a cardiac arrest, so I had a heart attack, ruptured my eardrum, gave me a lot of burns,” Parker said. “They brought in a big wheel and like had a basket on that big wheel and rolled me out on that.”

Recognition ahead

Parker said he returned to the trail two days later and brought home two elk. He said surviving was the first success and returning helped him mentally.

“I would say one would have been a success. I mean, not dying was a success,” Parker said. “It certainly was not was not easy, but I’m glad that I did it. I think mentally, I’m in a lot better spot.”

“I mean, who would have thought that a man hit by lightning, his heart stopped. Two days later, he’s back up here hunting. Crazy,” Tracey said.

Parker wrote a letter to thank Tracey and Hooten, and the American Ambulance Association noticed it.

“All it took was just one nice letter,” Tracey said.

“We don’t do this for recognition. But you know the job can be, it can grind you down. You can go through hundreds of calls that you just feel like, you know, you don’t, you’re not seen for what you’ve done,” Hooten said.

Tracey and Hooten will travel to Washington, D.C., on Saturday to receive the Stars of Life Award.

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