Idaho’s stunning natural beauty and prime fall hunting opportunities drew Tom Knoll and his fellow backcountry horsemen into the wilderness on October 14, 2021. After setting up their elk hunting camp near the headwaters of the Little North Fork of the Clearwater River, Knoll and his friend, Tom McIntyre, decided to go for a ride.

As Knoll saddled his mule, Boom, he briefly considered using a rear britchin’ to secure the saddle for downhill travel but decided against it—a choice that would soon haunt him. As they rode, Knoll frequently adjusted the saddle, and then disaster struck. While descending a hill, the saddle slid over the mule’s neck, propelling Knoll forward to the ground. The mule, panicking, reared up and landed on top of him.

McIntyre knew they needed urgent help. Leaving Knoll alone and injured, he set off to find assistance. Hours later, two men on an ATV stumbled upon Knoll and hiked up the mountain to get a cell signal. Meanwhile, McIntyre found wolf trapper Eric Degman, who had a satellite phone. Eric, an EMT, took control of the situation, calling 911 and requesting emergency help. Shoshone County Dispatch quickly contacted Life Flight Network, and within minutes, a helicopter was enroute. “Wow! They’re here already!” Knoll recalled Eric saying upon hearing the helicopter.

Knoll, severely injured and bleeding, feared he wouldn’t survive. As the helicopter approached, one thought gave him comfort: he was glad he had a Life Flight Network membership.

The helicopter landed about a mile away, and the crew hiked through the wilderness to reach Knoll. Flight nurse Janine remembers the difficult trek: “It was very dense wilderness.” She quickly administered pain relief, and the team worked with others to transport Knoll onto an ATV. They made it to within 70 yards of the helicopter, where they had to carry him by hand over soft, swampy terrain. “I’m glad I was able to bring him some comfort during his journey with Life Flight Network,” Janine said.

Life Flight Network transported Knoll to Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where doctors discovered he had five broken ribs and a pneumothorax (a hole in his lung). After two days in the hospital, he began recovering, bolstered by his pre-accident fitness. He has since regained much of his strength.

Knoll’s advice to others: “Don’t get complacent—it’s often the first step toward an accident.”