This episode of the Crux True Survival Stories Podcast examines the events of July 26, 2003, when a lightning strike on Grand Teton's Exum Ridge triggered what became known as the most spectacular rescue in American mountaineering history.
Thirteen climbers from an Idaho health products company were ascending the technical route at 13,000 feet when a massive lightning bolt struck the granite ridge at 3:35 PM. The strike killed 27-year-old Erica Summers instantly and left multiple climbers with severe injuries scattered across the cliff face. Rodrigo "Rod" Liberal was trapped hanging upside down and unconscious from a single piece of climbing gear over a thousand-foot drop.
The episode chronicles the complex rescue operation led by Jenny Lake Rangers, including helicopter pilot Lawrence Perry and rescue specialists Leo Larson and Craig Holm. Using short-haul helicopter techniques in deteriorating weather conditions, the team worked against approaching darkness and storms to evacuate the injured climbers one by one.
Hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen analyze the factors that contributed to the disaster—the group's late start, inadequate anchoring systems, and the unpredictable nature of mountain weather—while detailing the technical precision required for high-altitude cliff rescues.
The discussion includes insights from Jennifer Woodley's book "Bolt from the Blue," which documented the minute-by-minute rescue efforts, and explores how this incident influenced modern mountain rescue protocols and safety education. The episode serves as both a case study in wilderness survival and a testament to the specialized skills of mountain rescue professionals.
00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
00:30 The Grand Teton Climbing Disaster Begins
04:49 The Lightning Strike and Immediate Aftermath
08:08 The Incredible Rescue Operation
14:22 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
29:00 Historical Significance of the Exim Ridge
32:24 Closing Thoughts and Future Stories
36:03 Listener Engagement and Farewell

http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

References

Primary Sources

American Alpine Club Publications

• "Lightning, Poor Position—Late Start, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton" (2003 Accident Report)
• Available at: publications.americanalpineclub.org

Contemporary News Reports

• Chicago Tribune - "Lightning kills 1, injures 5 climbing at Grand Teton" (July 28, 2003)
• UPI - "Grand Teton climber killed" (July 27, 2003)
• Deseret News - "Rescuers scramble as climbers pray" (October 20, 2003)
• Deseret News - "Rescue of dangling climber a delicate task" (October 21, 2003)
• Spokesman-Review - "Tragedy on the Tetons" (July 25, 2004)

Book Source

Woodlief, Jennifer

• A Bolt from the Blue: The Epic True Story of Danger, Daring, and Heroism at 13,000 Feet
• Simon & Schuster, 2012
• ISBN: 9781451607086

Additional Sources

Outside Magazine

• "Struck" - Feature article on the incident
• Available at: outsideonline.com

Casper Star-Tribune

• "Identities of lightning strike victims released" (2003)

In March 2012, two lifelong friends and former Marines, Ken Henderson and Ed Cohen, embarked on what should have been a perfect fishing trip to the oil rigs 50 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Within minutes, their 30-foot boat suffered catastrophic failure and sank beneath them, leaving them stranded in frigid 65-degree waters with no rescue in sight.

Learn about this harrowing 30+ hour survival ordeal that tested every limit of human endurance, friendship, and sacrifice. Ken, a retired sheriff's deputy and water rescue expert, and Ed, a devoted father and grandfather, faced hypothermia, hallucinations, and the vast emptiness of the Gulf's treacherous currents.

This deeply moving story explores the unbreakable bond between Marines, the impossible choices that love sometimes forces us to make, and the devastating reality that sometimes survival comes at the ultimate cost. Through expert analysis of cold water survival, Gulf of Mexico maritime hazards, and the psychology of extreme situations, discover how preparation, training, and the power of human connection can mean the difference between life and death.

Warning: This episode contains mature themes and emotional content related to life-and-death survival situations.

A tribute to friendship, sacrifice, and the courage to make impossible decisions when everything depends on it.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
• 00:34 A Perfect Day Turns into a Nightmare
• 01:30 The Gulf of Mexico: A Dangerous Beauty
• 03:09 Meet Ken and Ed: Brothers in Arms
• 04:35 The Fishing Trip Begins
• 07:28 Disaster Strikes: The Boat Sinks
• 09:56 Struggling to Survive in the Gulf
• 17:11 A Heart-Wrenching Decision
• 18:57 Ken's Fight for Survival
• 21:09 The Aftermath: Coping with Loss
• 23:17 Conclusion and Listener Call to Action

http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us with suggestions! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

News Articles and Reports:

• International Business Times - "Ken Henderson and Ed Coen: Tragedy Strikes Gulf After Boating Accident Claims 1" by Dave Smith, March 28, 2012
• NBC News - "Boating tragedy recounted: 'Kiss them babies for me'" by Ramit Plushnick-Masti (Associated Press), March 28, 2012
• New York Daily News - "Texas man leaves best friend to die, survives 35 hours in the Gulf of Mexico" (Associated Press), Updated January 10, 2019
• Daily Mail - "'Kiss them babies for me': The last words beloved father said to his best friend after their fishing boat sank" (Associated Press), March 27-28, 2012
• Conroe Courier - "Hard choice means life and death for two friends" by Nancy Flake and Carrie Thornton, March 26, 2012

Television Documentation:

• "Fight to Survive" - Ken Henderson Story (Season 1, Episode 1 or Season 3, Episode 1 - sources show conflicting season numbers)
• Aired on multiple platforms including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Pluto TV
• Documentary featuring Ken Henderson's detailed firsthand account of the incident
• Show description: "Best friends, Ed Cohen and Ken Henderson, set out for two days of Texas gulf fishing. Tragedy strikes and the two men are stranded adrift in hostile waters."

Gulf of Mexico Information:

• Wikipedia entry for Gulf of Mexico, including geographical, meteorological, and safety data
• Gulf of Mexico water temperature data for March conditions
• Information about Gulf currents, weather patterns, and offshore fishing conditions

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh recount the harrowing tale of a French family's dream vacation that turned into a nightmare at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The episode delves into the extreme conditions and decisions that led to the deaths of David and Ornella Steiner, who sacrificed their lives to save their 9-year-old son amidst the park's unforgiving heat. Through expert insight and a step-by-step narrative, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the physiological and psychological challenges faced in such harsh environments, emphasizing the critical importance of preparation and caution when venturing into nature's most perilous landscapes.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:39 Setting the Scene: White Sands National Park
02:16 Meet the Steiner Family
04:46 The Fateful Hike Begins
08:38 The Harsh Realities of White Sands
13:50 Understanding Heat-Related Illnesses
16:40 A Mother's Sacrifice
18:01 Ruff Greens
19:12 A Heartbreaking Turn of Events
20:04 The Sunk Cost Mentality
21:05 Heat Exhaustion and Underestimation
23:20 The Family's Final Moments
25:09 The Rescue Operation
26:57 Aftermath and Reflections
28:09 Lessons from the Tragedy
30:33 The Essence of Parental Love
36:00 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
37:23 Podcast Outro and Listener Engagement

Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

References

1. StrangeOutdoors.com - "The disturbing deaths of David and Ornella Steiner at White Sands Monument" (July 21, 2024)
2. CNN - "French couple who died in desert gave son extra water, sheriff said" (August 11, 2015)
3. The Washington Post - "French parents who died on New Mexico trail saved son's life by giving him their water, sheriff says" (August 8, 2015)
4. Outside Online - "Couple Dies Hiking in White Sands" (August 2015)
5. TIME - "Boy's Life Spared When Parents Sacrifice Water to Save Him in Desert" (August 11, 2015)
6. France24 - "French couple die in US desert, nine-year-old son rescued" (August 8, 2015)
7. CNN - "French couple dies in New Mexico desert; son survives" (August 10, 2015)
8. Christian Science Monitor - "French couple dies in New Mexico desert, but saves son by giving him water" (August 11, 2015)
9. Albuquerque Journal - "French couple die during midday White Sands hike" (August 7, 2015)
10. ABC7 Chicago - "Sheriff: French pair who died in US desert likely saved son" (August 9, 2015)
11. Yahoo Finance - "French hikers die in US desert, son survives" (August 8, 2015)

Medical Sources: 12. Cleveland Clinic - "Heat Stroke: Symptoms, Treatment & Recovery" (2021) 13. NHS - "Heat exhaustion and heatstroke" 14. Healthline - "Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion: What's the Difference?" (May 26, 2023) 15. PMC/NCBI - "Exertional heat stroke: pathophysiology and risk factors" 16. StatPearls/NCBI - "Heat Stroke" 17. New England Journal of Medicine - "Heatstroke"