What began as a fun camping trip with his Boy Scout troop turned into a full Hollywood action movie for a 13-year-old from Utah. In 2001, Cody Clawson missed the trail turnoff and became lost in the vast wilderness of Yellowstone National Park.
After surviving 18 hours alone in the middle of the forest, he used his Boy Scouts knowledge to signal for help.
But once the rescue helicopter landed on a nearby hill, Clawson could hardly believe his eyes because sitting in the pilot seat was Han Solo himself. His rescuer was Harrison Ford, the famous actor.
The missing Boy Scout
Cody Clawson was born in 1989 and resided with his family in Huntsville, Utah. In July 2001, he travelled to Yellowstone National Park with his Boy Scout troop.
Troop 241 was scheduled to stay at the Loll Boy Scout Camp just outside Yellowstone, from where they would explore nature and engage in various activities such as climbing, guided hikes, and more.
Around 2:00 PM on July 9th, 2001, Clawson arrived at the camp with his father, and he began carrying the supplies from their vehicle, which was parked at a nearby lot.
At one point, Clawson started following a man he believed was his dad, but quickly lost sight of him. Realizing he had taken a wrong turn, the 13-year-old decided to stay where he was and wait for someone to come along.
But 30 minutes had passed without anyone looking for him. At that point, he decided to search for the way to the campsite on his own. But what he didn’t realize right away was that he was venturing deeper and deeper into the wilderness.
He still had the items from the car with him, so Clawson left his sleeping bag, two empty water packs, and an air mattress behind. Determined to find his Troop 241, he went deeper into the forest, hoping to hear someone calling his name.
In the late afternoon, Clawson noticed thunderclouds closing in. Last summer, he earned the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, so he knew he needed to build a shelter. The teen attempted to make several lean-tos, but they all collapsed due to the strong winds.
The night was approaching, and Clawson found an overhanging rock that could protect him from the storm. The teen crawled under it and curled into a ball. His T-shirt, shorts, and sandals were already wet from rain and snow, and the temperature was continuing to drop.
Unable to sleep from shivering in the 50-degree weather, Clawson waited for the first signs of dawn. The 13-year-old was terrified and alone somewhere in the Yellowstone National Park, so the only thing he could do was pray for rescue.
In the morning, four bears passed right next to his shelter, but luckily, they didn’t notice him. Once he was sure the animals were gone, he searched for clean water and soon found a creek near the cave.
Clawson hoped someone was looking for him, so he continued to walk. Before long, he heard helicopters flying overhead, and he was determined to find a clearing from which he could signal them.
The rescue
What Clawson didn’t know was that a search for him had already been launched the previous day. His father had reported him missing to local law enforcement, who raised the alarm in the area.
Rescue teams from both Idaho and Wyoming arrived at the campground, ready to look for the missing teen.
The search for Clawson continued at sunrise the next morning. Rescuers covered the terrain on foot while three helicopters took to the skies in search of the missing teen. One of the helicopter pilots was Harrison Ford, who lived part-time in Jackson, Wyoming, at the time.
The Indiana Jones actor moved to the area in the 1980s and often spent his free time exploring nature and enjoying the outdoors on foot or a mountain bike.
He frequently flew his Bell 407 helicopter in the region, so as soon as he heard about the missing teen, Ford volunteered to help search for him.
Clawson found a clearing around 8:30 AM and approached a nearby steep outcrop, believing it would make him more visible to the aircraft. But just before he started to climb, he saw the helicopter circling directly above him.
Thinking quickly, Clawson used his belt with a shiny buckle to reflect sunlight and signal the pilot he was there. But instead of landing in the clearing, the helicopter flew away. Clawson felt complete despair because he believed he had missed his only chance for rescue.
The teen had no idea that Ford had seen the signal and landed his helicopter on a nearby hill. A rescuer soon came running toward Clawson, shouting his name.
Relieved his ordeal was finally over, Clawson, who was still shivering from the cold, began walking to the helicopter when the rescuer informed him Harrison Ford was the pilot. Naturally, the teen didn’t believe him.
But when the two reached the Bell 407 helicopter, the pilot turned around and greeted Clawson. As soon as he heard his voice, the teen was reminded of Han Solo.
Clawson thought he was imagining being rescued by Ford, and then thought to himself, it was so cool that the actor himself was taking him to safety.
Ford took the teen to the search and rescue headquarters, and once they landed, the actor said: “Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one.” Clawson replied that he had already received it last summer, and Ford laughed. The teen then learned he was found around 10 miles away from his camp.
Clawson was treated for mild hypothermia and exhaustion, which was expected after spending 18 hours out in the elements without proper gear or food.
Fortunately, he didn’t have any injuries on his body that required long-term medical treatment. The teen was soon reunited with his father, who contacted their family back in Utah, sharing the good news.
While the rescue of Cody Clawson became a media sensation because of Ford’s involvement, the Boy Scouts still use it as a prime example of the importance of being prepared for any situation.
Clawson’s training in wilderness survival helped him endure the night and successfully signal for rescue using his belt buckle.
When Clawson’s friends learned he was rescued by the actor, they immediately asked the teen if he managed to get an autograph. Clawson replied that he had gotten a hug and a handshake, which, for him, is way better than an autograph.
Today, Cody Clawson lives in Ogden, Utah, with his wife Kelsi and their son, Kael.
After Ford’s plane accident on a golf course in Los Angeles back in 2015, journalists interviewed Clawson, who once again expressed his gratitude toward the actor and wished him a speedy recovery so that he could help more people in the future.
A real-life hero
Clawson wasn’t the first person rescued by Harrison Ford. On July 31st, 2000, Sarah George and Megan Freeman were attempting to climb the 11,106-foot Table Mountain on the border of Grand Teton National Park.
George soon started feeling sick due to the severe heat, which left her dehydrated. Too weak to move on her own, George required immediate medical attention. Another hiker spotted the women and, fortunately, had a cellphone to call for help.
Freeman and the unnamed hiker managed to get George to a meadow two miles away from the summit. They were instructed to go there because that was the nearest place where a rescue helicopter could land.
Soon, a Bell 407 helicopter appeared, and it was piloted by none other than Harrison Ford. George didn’t recognize him at first because he was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and a cowboy hat.
However, Freeman realized that the famous actor was the one rescuing her friend and felt a bit disappointed when she was told there wasn’t enough space for her in the helicopter.
George later recalled she felt incredibly sick just minutes before they were to arrive at the St. John’s Hospital in Jackson, and Ford handed her his hat so she could throw up in it.
George learned the next day that she was rescued by the famous Hollywood actor and felt embarrassed for vomiting in his helicopter. The young woman expressed her gratitude and promised she would watch every upcoming movie starring Ford.
The news about Ford flying a rescue helicopter in his free time soon reached the media, and everyone wanted to learn more. Teton County Sheriff was interviewed by journalists, and he explained that residents of Jackson frequently participate in rescue missions.
Ford, who is an experienced pilot, had offered his flying skills to the Sheriff’s Department as soon as he moved to Wyoming.
The actor explained he would be flying in the area anyway, so he could also assist with the search and rescue when needed. According to the Sheriff, Ford’s generosity saved them more than $1,000 per flight.
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