When 9-year-old Bode Bierdneau realized that his father was trapped under his snowmobile, he knew he had to do something. He tried to dig his father out, but with his leg injuries there wasn't much the boy could physically do to help. That's when Bode began bravely trekking for miles across the snow. He had no idea where to go, but he was hopeful that he'd find someone who would help rescue his dad.
Bode and his father JT, who are from Marin County, Calif., were snowmobiling in Lake Tahoe on Sunday when the accident happened.
"I jumped off my snowmobile and tried to dig him out," the fourth grader told KGO News. "I dug him out as fast as I could but my fingers got numb."
So the quick-thinking 9-year-old decided to seek help. Though he had no cell phone or GPS to direct him, the boy decided to take a chance and trek across miles of snow.
"I was pretty nervous," he said. His fear was in well reason. Lake Tahoe is home to North America's largest alpine lake- it sits between California and Nevada, and the mountainous region is surrounded by miles of snow.
"It was really hard because I didn't know which way to go."
Despite having no directions, the boy was able to get the attention of a tour group who used their emergency radio to get some help. Rescuers were then led to his dad.
Once emergency responders arrived, JT Bierdneau was airlifted to the hospital where he received emergency surgery for a broken leg.
Tina Shaw, the 9-year-old boy's mother, told KGO News that she was impressed with the young boy's calm demeanor during the emergency.
When she first heard wabout the incident, Shaw explained that her emotions were high. "I was so upset," she said. "But then I thought he is such a calm kid, he is so grounded, he is such a hero."
