WEATHERFORD, Okla. KFOR – Three firefighters from Weatherford played a crucial role in rescuing a fellow Oklahoman who was found unconscious while elk hunting in southern Colorado in late September. Chief Kory Selman, Lt. Jay Whitson, and Jimmy Litsch regularly venture into the rugged Rocky Mountains for their annual hunting trips. When they learned about a man in distress, they didn’t hesitate to assist.
The man, identified as Les Patton from Norman, was discovered by cowboys herding cattle in the area, severely sick and incoherent in his tent after being exposed to carbon monoxide for 13 hours. He had a kerosene heater running inside his tent, with kerosene stored nearby.
Whitson described the campsite as being eight miles up a trail, situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in a remote location, making it challenging for rescue teams to reach him quickly. The Weatherford firefighters were equipped to provide immediate assistance.
Upon arriving, they quickly started administering oxygen and monitored his vital signs. After about five minutes, he had improved quite a bit, Selman said.
In a remarkable twist of fate, Patton expressed relief upon discovering that his rescuers were fellow Oklahomans. It was calming, to say the least, he recounted. When I didn’t really know where my life was headed at that moment.
Patton credited divine intervention and a stroke of luck for the timely arrival of the rescue team. He was later transported by medical helicopter to a hospital in Durango, where doctors informed him he had significant carbon monoxide levels in his system.
First responders from Colorado took to social media to publicly thank the Weatherford firefighters for their heroism. Although they haven’t yet reunited with Patton, they plan to reach out to him for a meeting.
This incident highlights the vital role of first responders and the importance of safety measures when using heating sources in enclosed spaces, especially in remote wilderness areas.
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