Verizon thanks Utah first responders in Super Bowl ad

Verizon gave a big salute to America’s first responders in a Super Bowl ad, and some of Salt Lake County’s finest are appreciative. The spot included a life-saving rescue with Salt Lake County volunteers who overcame several challenges to save a woman who fell 80 feet while hiking.

“We do this because we want to. We don’t really look for recognition,” said Wayne Bassham, Salt Lake County Search and Rescue Commander. “But when somebody does give us a ‘Thank you,’ it goes right to our hearts.”

First responders do not often receive the appreciation they deserve, so Verizon thanked them in the ad by highlighting seven dramatic rescues from across the country. On the rescue at Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon, rescuers said there could have easily been a bad outcome.

“Her skin was blue. We thought the worst,” said Bassham.

That was the assessment when rescuers first reached then 18-year-old Abby Ward in July 2016.

“She was still totally out cold,” he said. “She had been out now for over an hour.”

Ward had fallen 80 to 100 feet into the falls from the slippery rocks above.

Shawn Kenney was one of the first search and rescue volunteers who hiked to her as a Lifeflight medical helicopter approached from above.

Kenney said Ward’s younger brother, who was hiking with her, was lucky to be able to make a phone call in the canyon, and it was fortunate that the chopper was nearby with a hoist.

“There’s one open spot and it happened to be where she was that Lifeflight was able to get low enough with their hoist to actually grab her,” he said.

“To have her brother call right away without wasting any time for 911,” said Bassham. “That’s why I classify it as having all of the stars aligned.”

Bassham talked with Ward by phone in December as part of the Verizon tribute.

“It was almost heart stopping,” he said. “To hear her voice; it’s priceless.”

“I’ve got kids right at her age, and above her age,” said Kenney. “Those kinds of rescues really hit home.”

The rescue team admires Ward’s courage and toughness.  They hope to meet with her as soon as her recovery allows.

Salt Lake County Search and Rescue tackled 67 rescue missions in 2016, 88 mission last year, and already six in 2018.  The volunteers are grateful for the recognition from Verizon.

“It’s special to have somebody tell you thanks,” said Bassham.

Watch a longer version of the rescue and the other six life-saving incidents from across the country on Verizon’s “All Our Thanks” webpage.