Washington airman receives award after carrying injured 79-year-old hiker down trail

A Washington-based Airman received an award for rescuing a woman who had a hiking accident in late August, the U.S. Air Force announced.

Airman 1st Class Troy May made the rescue on Aug. 28 near Ashford, Washington, while hiking to High Rock Lookout. He received an achievement medal on Sept. 9.

“One of the Air Force’s core values is service before self, and Airman 1st Class May clearly exemplified that core value with his actions,” Lt. Col. Joshua Clifford, 62d AMXS commander, said in the news release. “While our team of Airmen showcase amazing accomplishments every day, we relish the opportunity to focus on one Airman’s courage and recognize them for truly living the Air Force’s core values.”

The woman he rescued, 79-year-old Ursula Bannister, takes a trip every year to High Rock Lookout and this year, she went to spread her late mother’s ashes. 

“I know the trail very well, and there are always many people there,” Bannister said in the news release. “When I couldn’t find anyone to accompany me on this outing, I just went by myself.”

She had finished lunch and had begun hiking down when she felt her leg give out, according to the Air Force. She stepped into a hole, causing a shock to travel up her body. 

She called for help, and that’s when some hikers found her. As hikers called emergency responders and tried to help her as best as they could, then came May and his friend.

“My first thought was if I could carry her down, I should carry her down and get her there as quickly as I can,” May said in the news release.

Injured hiker was in a lot of pain as Airman carried her to safety

Donning cowboy boots, May put Bannister on his back and started to carry her down the trail. The boots made carrying her down the trail very painful though as gravity pulled her off of him, the Air Force said. He had to use his legs to stop at some points.

He carried her most of 1.6 miles down the hiking trail. His friend, Layton Allen, also carried Bannister some of the way.

“Once we got down, we loaded her into her car, elevated her foot and started driving to the hospital,” May said. “We met search and rescue about 30 minutes down the road, put ice on her foot, drove the rest of the way to the hospital and waited for her son to get there.”

A few days later, Bannister called May and Allen to thank them for helping her. She had surgery and was recovering, she told them.

“I truly felt that these two guys were meant to be there to save me, and that sort of swam in my subconscious at the time,” Bannister said in the news release. “I considered them my angels.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.