Against All Odds: How a 13-Year-Old Boy Saved His Father in the Wilderness | E151

Against All Odds: How a 13-Year-Old Boy Saved His Father in the Wilderness | E151

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen bring you the extraordinary tale of David Finlayson and his 13-year-old son Charlie—a story that redefines courage in the face of disaster.

When their August 2015 climbing expedition in Idaho's remote Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness took a devastating turn after a massive boulder struck David, it was young Charlie who transformed from teenager to hero. With remarkable composure and ingenuity, Charlie embarked on a life-saving mission that would test the limits of their father-son bond and demonstrate the incredible capacity of the human spirit.

This edge-of-your-seat episode explores not only the harrowing ordeal but also the treacherous beauty of one of America's most isolated wilderness areas, the inherent risks of rock climbing, and the critical importance of wilderness preparedness that can mean the difference between life and death.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:31 The Story of David and Charlie Finlayson 01:29 The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness 06:26 The Dangers of Rock Climbing 07:40 The Climbing Accident 12:41 Charlie's Heroic Efforts 15:22 The Descent and Struggle for Survival 19:54 Charlie's Search for Help 22:57 A Chance Encounter in the Wilderness 23:49 The Rescue Effort Begins 24:17 Charlie's Determination and Faith 25:35 David's Medical Journey 26:19 Life After the Ordeal 28:12 Lessons from the Wilderness 36:00 Famous Climbing Survival Stories 42:24 Essential Wilderness Gear 44:36 The Power of the Human Spirit 45:48 Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement

Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

References and Sources
  • Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (2015, August 29). Idaho boy saves father after boulder crushes him during camping trip. Retrieved from Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
  • Idaho Statesman. (2015, August 27). Man crushed by boulder in Idaho wilderness aided for days by his young son. By Katy Moeller.
  • NBC Chicago. (2015, August 28). 13-Year-Old Boy Scout Helps Save Dad After Hiking Accident. By Jessica Glazer.
  • NBC News. (2015, August 27). Teen Scout Helps Save Dad Hurt By Falling Boulder in Rugged Wilderness. By Phil Helsel.
  • WFLX. (2015, August 31). Charlie Finlayson: Idaho Boy Scout saves dad trapped by boulder. Originally aired on KTVB/NBC.
  • Wikipedia. (2025, January 9). Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Retrieved from Wikipedia.org.
  • MacDonald, D. (2022, August 18). Six Near-death Climbing Accidents Analyzed and Explained. Outside/Climbing.
  • Green, S. (2018, June 10). The Five Most Common Rock Climbing Deaths. TripSavvy.
  • Foxfield, A. & Clarke, J. (2024, July 3). Is rock climbing dangerous? We look into the risks and how to manage them. Advnture.
  • Goalcast. (2022, October 20). Dad Nearly Killed by Boulder Miles Away From Civilization - His 13-Year-Old Son Jumps Into Action. By Heidi Hamm

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Avsnitt(191)

31) Mark and Phillip and the Treacherous Mount Cook Climb

31) Mark and Phillip and the Treacherous Mount Cook Climb

Mark and Phillip were working search and rescue on Mount Cook, New Zealand in the early 80's. In 1982, they decided to climb the mountain together and got caught in a storm that would threaten both of their lives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12 Sep 202116min

30) Todd Endris and the Great White Shark

30) Todd Endris and the Great White Shark

Twenty four year old Todd Endris was doing what he loved to do, surf. It was a late August morning in Monterey Bay in 2007. He pulled on his wet suit and paddled into the water, noting a pod of dolphins swimming around. Within a few minutes of surfing he felt an immense force that hit the bottom of his board, catapulting him 15 feet into the air, and then into the water. He knew this could only mean one thing..he was being attacked by a shark. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Sep 202117min

29) 1953 K2 Expedition: Eight Men Set off to Seek Adventure on K2, but were Met with Difficulty

29) 1953 K2 Expedition: Eight Men Set off to Seek Adventure on K2, but were Met with Difficulty

The third American expedition of K2 (Karakoram) included Dr. Charles Houston, Robert Bates, George Bell, Robert Craig, Arthur Gilkey, Dee Molenaar, Peter Schoening and Capt. H.R.A. Streather. This climb had been attempted by Houston and Bates in 1938, but due to World War Two and political conflicts, they were not able to return to the mountain again until 1953. They were a strong group of men with a mindset of teamwork and hopes of success. Their optimism was crushed when at 25,500 feet they were met with a multi day storm. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

29 Aug 202132min

28) Anna Bågenholm- A Medical Student who Survived Hypothermia and the Lowest Body Temperature ever Recorded.

28) Anna Bågenholm- A Medical Student who Survived Hypothermia and the Lowest Body Temperature ever Recorded.

Anna  Bågenholm became an accidental legend when she was 29. Anna was a medical student who was skiing after work, something she did often, when she crashed on her skis, plummeting into an ice covered stream, and was stuck there for 80 minutes before rescue. When she survived, her story reframed the medical communities understanding of hypothermia and the medical uses for cooling patients intentionally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

22 Aug 202118min

27) Reshma Begum: Survived within a Building after it Collapsed

27) Reshma Begum: Survived within a Building after it Collapsed

In 2013, Rashma Begum was working in a garment factory when the building suddenly collapsed. She would be trapped for days, all alone, before rescuers would pull her from the wreckage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

15 Aug 202120min

26) The Death Defying Film Crew: Helicopter Crash into Kilauea Volcano

26) The Death Defying Film Crew: Helicopter Crash into Kilauea Volcano

This is the story of Chris Duddy, Michael Benson, and Craig Hosking. In 1996, the three men set out in a helicopter over the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii to shoot some footage for the movie Sliver when the helicopter crashed, catapulting them into a very hot and dangerous situation in which they became trapped inside the volcanic vent. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8 Aug 202120min

25) Carol Martini and Jay Barry: Attacked by Pirates out at Sea

25) Carol Martini and Jay Barry: Attacked by Pirates out at Sea

Carol Martini and Jay Barry had dreams of sailing the world, and made plans to do so in 2004. They were traveling through the gulf of Aden when pirates attacked, putting the couples lives at risk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2 Aug 202124min

24) Eric LeMarque: One Wrong Turn Under the Ski Boundary at Mammoth Left Eric in the Cold

24) Eric LeMarque: One Wrong Turn Under the Ski Boundary at Mammoth Left Eric in the Cold

Eric LeMarque was a talented athlete, a former Olympic Hockey player who lost his direction and his drive after retiring from the sport during the 1999-2000 season, and put his energy and focus into snowboarding. Eric then went down a dark path, getting his kicks from smoking crystal meth. In 2004, when Eric was 34, he went with his friends to Mammoth Ski Resort in Eastern California in the Sierras. At the end of a great day of snowboarding, Eric made a decision that could be only considered one of the most pivotal moments in his life, he cut under a ski boundary line. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 Juli 202121min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

mardromsgasten
podme-dokumentar
aftonbladet-krim
en-mork-historia
badfluence
rattsfallen
p3-dokumentar
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
skaringer-nessvold
nemo-moter-en-van
killradet
flashback-forever
rss-brottsutredarna
kod-katastrof
vad-blir-det-for-mord
hor-har
rysarpodden
p1-dokumentar
rss-ghip-googlare-har-inga-polare
svenska-fall