Brighten Your Day

Loyal Dog Guides Injured Owner To Safety After Cliff Accident In Utah Mountains

August 5, 2025

When Jacob Schmitt set out for a hunting trip in Utah’s Uinta Mountains, he had no idea his survival would depend on the loyalty of his best friend—his dog, Buddy.

Jacob Schmitt and his loyal companion, Buddy

The 34-year-old was driving his side-by-side along a narrow mountain trail when the vehicle lost control and tumbled down a cliff, flipping more than a dozen times. Jacob was thrown out mid-fall and left with a broken leg, two fractured ankles, and several broken ribs. His phone and radio were lost in the wreck, and he found himself stranded, injured, and completely alone.

Except—he wasn’t.

His German short-haired pointer, Buddy, had been riding safely in the back kennel. When Jacob came to, Buddy was standing nearby—completely unharmed.

"He was sort of just there staring at me without a scratch," Jacob said. "It almost makes me emotional."

With daylight fading and no way to call for help, Jacob knew he had to act. He splinted his own leg and began the painful journey down the mountain.

For 11 hours, he crawled through the night, with Buddy faithfully by his side. The only light guiding them came from a small glow on Buddy’s collar. That quiet presence kept Jacob moving.

"The thing that loves you unconditionally is just there, essentially. And he keeps checking on you. It's like the biggest spirit jump," he said.

By sunrise, Jacob made it to his vehicle and drove to a nearby diner, where a woman called 911 and stayed with him until help arrived. First responders transported Jacob to the hospital and made sure Buddy was safe and cared for during the ordeal.

After four days in the hospital, Jacob is now recovering at home—with Buddy still faithfully by his side.

He credits his dog not just for helping him through those long, painful hours—but for giving him the strength to keep going.