Thank you to all the heroes who helped save my life

I would like to express my eternal gratitude and thanks to everybody involved in saving my life when I experienced cardiac arrest at the Anan trail on July 22.

I owe my life to Brian Schwartz of Alaska Charters and Adventures, James Leslie and Glen Decker of Alaska Waters, the U.S. Forest Service Anan crew, Wrangell EMTs, Dr. Lynn Prysunka, emergency room staff, medivac flight crew and others I am not aware of because three hours of my life are missing.

I could hardly “pick” a worse location for balancing on the verge of death. My survival in remote bear country is a loud testament to the pers...