BYU nursing student saves life of skier who collapsed at Snowbird

SNOWBIRD, Utah – Early Friday morning, November 29, a ski outing at Snowbird turned into a life-or-death situation when a skier collapsed on the mountain. Jake Loutensock, a senior nursing student at Brigham Young University, sprang into action and played a critical role in saving the man’s life.

Loutensock had taken the first tram of the day with his brother and cousin, ABC4 reported. On their first run, he witnessed the skier ahead of them crash, scattering skis and equipment across the slope. Initially, Loutensock gathered the skier’s gear, assuming it was a typical fall. But as he approached, someone nearby exclaimed that the man was unconscious.

“That’s kind of what triggered my nursing brain to turn on,” Loutensock said in an interview with ABC4.

Loutensock removed his gloves and checked for a pulse. Finding none, he immediately began CPR and called for help, shouting for someone to dial 911 and find a doctor. Moments later, a doctor skiing nearby joined him, and the two alternated performing chest compressions as they worked to revive the man.

After what felt like both an eternity and a blink of an eye, ski patrol arrived on the scene. They stabilized the man’s head and brought medical equipment while Loutensock and the doctor continued CPR, ABC4 said. Eventually, the rescue team detected a pulse. The ski patrol then transitioned the man onto a toboggan and transported him to a location where a helicopter could safely evacuate him.

He credited his nursing education for giving him the skills and confidence to respond effectively. “I’m grateful that I was in the right place at the right time with the right set of skills,” Loutensock told ABC4. “Although it was a little traumatic, I was happy that it was me because I felt prepared, and I felt that I made an impact.”

In a statement, Snowbird confirmed two separate medical incidents requiring transportation on Friday, with one patient airlifted by helicopter and another transported by ambulance. While officials did not disclose which skier was airlifted, Loutensock’s quick thinking undoubtedly contributed to a positive outcome for one of the patients.