A pair of hikers became unexpected heroes when they rescued a woman teetering on the brink of death, following a trail of her blood deep into the wilderness.
Jacque Tietijen, from Saratoga Springs, found herself in grave danger after a serious fall while hiking alone at Bridal Veil Falls in Utah on February 3. Known for her mountaineering prowess, Tietijen is no stranger to challenging terrains, having even conquered the formidable heights of Mount Everest, as reported by KSLTV.
“This isn’t new to her. She’s been in dangerous conditions,” her sister-in-law, Katherine, remarked to the news outlet. “She’s completed thousands of hikes, but this time, something went terribly wrong.”
What was intended to be a standard hike quickly transformed into a desperate battle for survival. Her family suspects that Tietijen either slipped and hit her head or was struck by a falling rock, leading to the life-threatening situation.
‘She’s been on thousands of hikes, and this was just the one where something went wrong.’
What should have been a routine trek turned into a fight for survival, as her family believes she slipped and hit her head or was struck by a falling rock.
Tietijen lay unconscious at the bottom of a 45-degree slope for over an hour – until two good Samaritans stumbled upon her.
The hikers had followed her blood trail and discovered the critically injured mountaineer, leading to her rescue.
Saratoga Springs native Jacque Tietijen, she is a veteran hiker and mountaineer and has experience with perilous trails like Mount Everest
Two good Samaritans discovered her body after they followed a trail of her blood, and they were able to rescue her
‘They took care of her, wrapped their coats around her, tried to get her body temperature up,’ Katherine added.
Tietijen was later airlifted to Utah Valley Hospital, where she is being treated for critical injuries.
The outdoorswoman sustained horrific injuries, including brain bleeds and skull fractures, according to her GoFundMe.
She was also intubated and sedated while doctors continue to monitor her severe brain swelling.
‘It will take a few days for the brain to show what it’s going to do,’ her sister-in-law told the outlet.
‘If it starts to swell too much, they will have to do emergency surgery and take a piece out of her skull to give the brain space to expand.’
Despite the harrowing injuries, her family hailed the rescuers as heroes and said they were grateful for likely saving her life.
‘The fact that they not just noticed [the blood trail], but had the inclination to follow it and to investigate, that potentially has saved her life,’ Katherine added.
Tietijen is battling life threatening injuries, including skull fractures and severe brain swelling
The mountaineer’s family set up a GoFundMe to support her recovery, which has raised nearly $25,000 of its $28,000 goal
Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Utah, where the woman was hiking before she sustained her critical injuries
‘Our family is so grateful. There are no words to how grateful we are to those men.’
The mountaineer’s family set up a GoFundMe to support her recovery, which has raised nearly $25,000 of its $28,000 goal.
Although Tietijen is a veteran hiker, her family reminds others that injuries and accidents can happen to anyone.
They warn hikers and mountaineers to always follow basic safety rules to minimize danger.
