Scott Vuncannon was the featured speaker at the meeting of the Rotary Club of Highlands on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Scott was introduced by Rotarian Zach Claxton.
Pictured at the top of article are from left Sherry Holt, Rotary Club of Highlands President; Highlands Fire And Rescue Chief Ryan Gearhart; Scott Vuncannon; Rotarian Zach Claxton; and Nan Vuncannon.
Scott discussed his near-death Rattlesnake bite experience, which occurred on August 22, 2018 on the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Trail while hiking with his 4-year-old dog, Boone.
Scott was bitten by the 4-5 foot rattlesnake around 2 p.m., he could immediately taste the poison in his mouth, his vision was very blurred, he had no cell phone coverage, walked about 650 steps toward the trail head, collapsed, began to pray, telling his family, “I’ll see you in Heaven…..goodbye…” as he began to realize he was going to die.
At home, his wife Nan began to worry about him, she was not certain where he was hiking, she had the Highlands Hiker Trail book open, showing Ellicott Rock Wilderness Trail; she went to the Highlands Hiker, was helped by May and Libby; Ryan Gearhart was called at Highlands Fire and Rescue. Eric Pierson was dispatched to the Trailhead, started in around 5:30 p.m., found Scott around 7:30 p.m., his blood pressure was 47 over 28 when he was found, Eric called for backup help, Scott was on a stretcher at 9:30 p.m., was at the trailhead around 12:30 a.m. and on a MAMA Helicopter headed for Mission Hospital at 1 a.m.
Scott miraculously survived this 12-hour medical ordeal, was nearly to fully recovered three months later and has still hikes today, although with much more care and equipment to better insure this never happens again to him.