Editor:

Thank you to all you heroes from the Red Mountain fiery crash site a week ago last Friday. I am Eric’s mother. The story in Telluride’s Watch stuns me with how many people helped save Eric’s life and get him out of the canyon on that snowy night. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It can never be said enough.  As reported in The Watch story, those first responders “packaged” Eric’s body perfectly for the trip back up the cliff and to the helicopter in Ouray.

Other heroes took over at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. In their emergency room, an expert trauma team cleaned and dressed his grievous wounds. Eric talked with us through the whole treatment. He spent two more nights in the hospital then got back home as far as Montrose Monday evening where he met up with his two young boys. He spent two more nights before returning to Durango on Wednesday.

Eric Petranek is one tough dude. He’s another of this story’s heroes. He survived. It’s preposterous.

The biggest thanks of all in this tale goes to heroes James Amrine who put out the fire on Eric’s back and used a tree branch to help pull him far enough away from the flames to be further rescued. If this accident were to happen a million times, we could expect a million fatalities. How Eric ever survived is due to Jim Amrine’s Herculean efforts.

Such profusion of love and caring and help for our family from the community and beyond overflows my heart and chokes me with appreciation for everyone’s love of my son.

From a most grateful mother,

 

– Sue Petranek

P.S.  The road at the accident scene will be closed when the burned carcass of his Jeep gets towed out. My apologies, ahead of time, for the inconvenience it causes travelers. I appreciate your graciousness.