外刊选读｜A Lifesaving Hike

版本一

In May 2024, 26-year-old electrician Colt Johnson went hiking alone in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. Unprepared for the scorching 100-degree heat, he got lost and ran out of water after five hours. Suffering from severe heat exhaustion, he felt dizzy and disoriented. With no cell service to send a distress text to his pregnant wife and 3-year-old daughter, Colt fired his handgun repeatedly as a last resort for help.

The gunshots caught the attention of 57-year-old retired firefighter John Zeto Jr. A seasoned rescuer with 30 years of experience, Zeto realized the repeated shots were a cry for help. He headed toward the sound and found the delirious Colt soon after. Zeto gave him water and electrolyte gel, then decided to take him to his car three miles away.

The journey downhill was extremely tough. Colt quickly drained all the water and grew weaker, trembling from dangerously high body temperature. The small-framed Zeto had to support the much taller and heavier Colt all the way. Exhausted and thirsty himself, Zeto dared not sit down, fearing they would both be trapped. Several times Colt refused to move, and Zeto urged him on, reminding him of his family.

After nearly three hours of difficult trekking, they reached Colt’s car at 4:30 p.m. Zeto drove the unconscious man to the nearest town and helped him recover with cold sports drinks. Later, Colt drove home safely, with Zeto checking on him by phone along the way.

The two have stayed close friends ever since. Zeto downplayed his heroic act, while Colt firmly believes the retired firefighter saved his life in the deadly heat.

版本二

In May 2024, 26-year-old electrician Colt Johnson set off for a solo hike in Arizona’s remote Superstition Mountains during his vacation. Accustomed to cool, shaded trails near his home, he was overwhelmed by the brutal 100-degree heat. After five hours of walking, Colt got completely lost and ran out of water. Plagued by dizziness and confusion from severe heat exhaustion, he tried to text his pregnant wife and 3-year-old daughter for help, yet his phone had no signal. Desperate to survive, he fired his bear-defense handgun repeatedly to send out a distress signal.

The gunshots were heard by 57-year-old John Zeto Jr., a retired firefighter from Florida who was hiking nearby. With 30 years of rescue experience, Zeto sensed the repeated shots were not random shooting but a cry for help. He always carried emergency supplies on hikes, having aided injured hikers many times before. He followed the sound and found Colt lying dazed on the trail. Zeto immediately gave him water and electrolyte gel, and figured their destination was a parking area three miles away by Canyon Lake.

The trip downhill turned into a grueling struggle. Colt finished all the water soon and grew increasingly weak, shaking violently due to a soaring body temperature. The lean Zeto had to support the tall, heavy man the entire way. He knew sitting down would mean giving up for both of them, so he kept moving despite his own fatigue and thirst. Exhausted and delirious, Colt refused to keep going several times. Zeto encouraged and urged him forward, reminding him of his beloved family.

They carefully navigated steep slopes and sharp rocks to avoid falls. After nearly three hours of tough trekking, they finally reached Colt’s car at 4:30 p.m. As Colt drifted in and out of consciousness, Zeto drove him to the nearest town. They rested in an air-conditioned shop and drank sports drinks, and Colt gradually regained his senses.

Later, Colt drove home safely, and Zeto kept calling to check on him. The two men have remained close friends ever since. Zeto never regarded himself as a hero, saying he simply helped a stranger in need. But Colt is convinced that the retired firefighter risked his own safety and truly saved his life under the sweltering sky.

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