Man Survives 11 Hours Crawling in the Wilderness, in ‘Excruciating’ Pain, with Life-Saving Help from His Dog

In the dark wilderness of Utah, the only light came from the small LED on Buddy’s collar.

It was just enough to help Jake Schmitt — Buddy’s owner — keep moving one night last month. He dragged himself through dry creek beds and rough terrain with a broken leg, fractured ankles, and broken ribs.

“At first, I thought I might just collapse and die. I figured I would keep going until my body gave out,” the 34-year-old hunter and hunting guide told PEOPLE.

As Schmitt crawled along, the pain became almost unbearable.

On July 20, Schmitt had been scouting mule deer in Utah’s Uinta Mountains for the upcoming hunting season when his Polaris Ranger, a utility task vehicle (UTV), rolled off a cliff.

He explained that he had stopped his UTV to back up when he hit a patch of unstable earth. He was thrown through the windshield while Buddy was in the back seat, and the vehicle tumbled down the steep slope.

When he regained consciousness, his left ankle “looked mangled,” and his right ankle felt “dislocated and fractured,” he said. Schmitt faced a long, painful crawl that would test both his body and mind.

Fortunately, he had help.

He made a splint from parts of the damaged UTV, then saw a familiar face.

“All of a sudden my dog pops up out of nowhere without a scratch on him,” Schmitt said. “I don’t know how he got out. It was amazing. He just wagged his tail next to me, like it was a normal day. He didn’t even realize what had happened.”

For the next 11 hours, Buddy’s collar light became Schmitt’s guide through the remote mountain terrain.

“People don’t realize how mental this was. Having my dog there changed everything,” he said. “It’s like having a friend with you. Without him, I don’t think I would’ve made it out.”

Buddy had saved Schmitt before. Two years ago, while welding in the backcountry, Buddy’s urgent barking warned him about a bear behind him.

“The only reason I knew about it was Buddy barking. The bear was 10 or 15 feet behind me. Buddy scared it away. The bear didn’t expect him to be so brave,” Schmitt said.

This time, Buddy guided him back to his truck. Schmitt then drove 20 minutes to the nearest town, despite his injuries, and found a waitress starting her early shift at the Oakley Diner.

“I tried to be overly nice so I wouldn’t scare her, but it probably seemed weird,” Schmitt laughed. “She asked, ‘Can I see the leg?’ I opened the door. It was swollen and bloody with a splint. She said, ‘Okay, I believe you.’ ”

The waitress immediately called 911 and helped him.

He was treated at Park City Hospital for broken ribs and fractures in both legs and ankles. His GoFundMe has raised more than $29,000 for medical costs.

Schmitt says what kept him going was simple.

“I felt I had to get Buddy out,” he said. “I also wanted to see my family and loved ones again.”

He first got Buddy from a client who bred hunting dogs, choosing him because he was the largest male in the litter.

“I owe him a lot more treats,” Schmitt said. “We’re even closer now. He’s seen me in every situation, so he understands me. We share a strong bond.”

Schmitt is still healing and will start physical therapy soon, but he doesn’t plan to slow down.

“I’m absolutely going back,” he said.