Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Injured, Stranded Crash Victim Insulates Himself With Newspapers Overnight To Survive Frigid Cold
Chad Cook's "good survival sense" helped keep the Kimball man alive after his rollover accident and night in the cold, Sheriff Harry Gillway says.
A local man survived low double-digit temperatures overnight after using newspapers to insulate himself following a rollover accident last Thursday afternoon, Feb. 28.
Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway said the driver, Chad Cook of Kimball, stated that he was driving back to Kimball at approximately 3 p.m. when his steering locked up and he lost control, which resulted with Cook rolling his vehicle.
"He is lucky to be alive, and thank God he had good survival sense," Gillway said.
According to Gillway, after the accident Cook was unable to walk due to injuries and could not find his cell phone.
Cook was, however, able to insulate himself from sub-freezing temperatures Thursday night with newspapers by stuffing them inside his clothes.
About 9 a.m. Friday morning, Cook was found by a propane delivery driver near CR 33 and CR 24 south of Kimball, Gillway said.
The propane driver called 911, and emergency vehicles and personnel were dispatched.
"Cook drug himself over 100 yards to seek help Friday morning when the delivery driver found him," said Gillway.
Gillway also stated that the investigation revealed damage to the power steering system of the rolled vehicle. The sheriff said Cook was transported by air to receive medical attention and believes that he was treated at Cheyenne Medical Center for minor injuries.