I’ve always admired Harrison Ford, but after hearing this little-known story about him, it’s impossible not to fall even deeper in love with the man.
Took refuge in a small cave
In the summer of 2001, 13-year-old Cody Clawson ventured into the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, just like any other Boy Scout would. He was confident, and ready to take on the outdoors.
But as the hours passed, something went wrong. In the secluded forest of the park, Cody found himself hopelessly lost
Wandering through the unforgiving landscape, the young scout soon realized he was in over his head. Dressed only in shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt, Cody had no real survival gear. As the cold rain poured and the winds howled, he took refuge in a small cave, hoping for some temporary relief.
He eventually fell asleep.
”It rained and sleeted that night. It was pretty scary,” he later recalled.
After several hours, he awoke to the unmistakable sound of a helicopter’s rotor blades, cutting through the sky above him.
Cody knew this was his chance. He quickly tore off his belt, using the buckle to reflect the sunlight in hopes of catching the pilot’s attention.
“I started looking for an open place that I could signal them,” Cody later told ABC News.
And then, the helicopter swooped down, and Cody saw him — the pilot.
It was none other than Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, at the controls. He had volunteered his helicopter and services to help locate Clawson.
Very cold, tired and hungry
At first, Cody didn’t recognize the prolific actor, whose career had spanned seven decades. But after a moment, he realized who it was that had saved him.
“The way he said [hello] reminded me so much of his role of Han Solo in Star Wars. Then I was like, ‘Oh my God, Han Solo has just rescued me. How cool is that?’
At the time, Ford, a passionate helicopter pilot, split his time living in Jackson, Wyoming.
Cody, who was very cold and tired when he was found, explained that his experience with Ford gave him a different perspective on celebrities. In a world that often paints stars as distant, untouchable figures, Cody came to see a different side of them.
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“What he did gave me a different perspective on stars. They sometimes get portrayed as snobby people, but there really is good, generous people out there,” he said.
After landing and ensuring Cody’s safety, Ford and his co-pilot flew him to a search and rescue headquarters. It was a quick, efficient rescue — but it left an unforgettable impression on Cody.
“When we landed, Harrison Ford came over to me and said, ‘Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one.’ But I told him I’d already earned this badge last summer, and he laughed.”
Harrison Ford saved another hiker
Later, when Cody told his friends about his adventure, they couldn’t believe what he’d experienced. They asked him if he had Ford’s autograph. Cody grinned and replied, “No, but I got a hug and a handshake, and that’s better.”
This wasn’t Harrison Ford’s first time stepping in to help rescue lost hikers in Yellowstone. In 2000, Ford piloted his helicopter into the backcountry to assist in a daring rescue. He saved Sarah George, a hiker from Idaho Falls, who had climbed the towering 11,106-foot Table Mountain in Teton County.
Stricken by altitude sickness, she was unable to descend. Ford swiftly swooped in, lifted her from the mountain, and flew her to safety at a nearby hospital, according to a report in Democrat and Chronicle.
”Well, one time we picked up this woman who was hypothermic on the mountain,” Ford recalled. ”She barfed in my cowboy hat but didn’t know who I was until the next day.”
”He was wearing a T-shirt and a cowboy hat. He didn’t look like I’d ever seen him before,” Sarah George told ABC News after the rescue. ”I can’t believe I barfed in Harrison Ford’s helicopter.”
Why Harrison Ford stopped rescuing hikers
For Cody, the moment back in 2001 was more than just a celebrity sighting — it was a reminder that sometimes, the real heroes are the ones who don’t seek attention.
Looking back on his heroic actions, Harrison Ford himself wasn’t too comfortable with the public attention that followed. Despite being hailed as a hero both times, Ford never embraced the spotlight. Today, he no longer participates in such rescue missions.
”I stopped doing it because we would be lucky enough to find somebody and then they’d be on Good Morning America talking about ‘a hero pilot,’” he said. ”It’s nothing fucking like that. It’s a team effort. It’s lame to think about it that way.”
Had you heard about this story? I have to say, it just increases my respect for Harrison Ford. More celebrities should have this mindset and be more like regular people, if you ask me. Feel free to share this if you agree!
