How Harrison Ford Is a Real-Life Hero

In his legendary roles such as Indiana Jones and Han Solo, Harrison Ford is known for his heroic feats on the big screen. We’ve all watched him outrun boulders, stop a runaway mine cart, and maneuver the Millennium Falcon out of harm’s way. But in real life, far from studio lots and moviegoers’ eyes, Ford has performed lifesaving acts of his own.

Table Rock Hiker

In 2000, Sarah Hurst fell ill while hiking Table Mountain in Teton County, Wyoming. Hurst was suffering from altitude sickness and dehydration, but luck was on her side. An avid helicopter pilot and part-time Wyoming resident at the time, Ford flew overhead, spotted Hurst and knew she needed help. When the actor landed and approached Hurst, she didn’t recognize him initially, and was thrown off by the NFL baseball cap the actor wore. “I thought, ‘I don’t know any football players,’” Hurst later recounted, according to Yahoo Finance.

The Lost Boy Scout

The next year, Boy Scout Cody Clawson wandered off trail near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Still wandering when nightfall came, along with rain and sleet, Clawson took shelter in a cave. Meanwhile, Ford heard news of the missing boy. The actor sprang into action to help with the search.

After a damp, cold night in the cave, Clawson awoke to the roar of airplanes and helicopters. Worried the rescuers might not see him, he grabbed his belt, ran from the cave, and held up his belt buckle to the sky, hoping the metal would reflect the sunlight. His quick thinking worked, and the rescuers landed, ending Clawson’s 18-hour ordeal. Then he heard a familiar voice say, “Good morning.” That voice sounds like Han Solo, Clawson thought. As Ford stepped closer, Clawson could hardly believe his eyes. After Ford made sure the boy was OK, he said, “You certainly should have earned a merit badge for this,” as reported by ABC News.

Car Crash Victim

Sixteen years after the cave rescue, Ford’s life-saving skills kicked in once again when he witnessed a woman lose control of her vehicle. The driver veered off California State Road 126 in Santa Paula and swerved into an embankment. Ford was among a group of people who tended to the woman until paramedics arrived. An ambulance transported the woman to a hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries.

Rather than seeking attention for coming to so many rescues, Ford simply wants to help others. Ford is a true hero, both on and off screen!

References: How Harrison Ford Rescued Wyoming Boy Scout Years Ago | Harrison Ford Helps Rescue Boy Scout | Harrison Ford Helps Woman After She Crashes Car Off The Highway