Watch CBS News

Mountain Runner 'Okay' With Dreadful Injury After 'Lucky' 20 Years

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - It's an incredible story of survival after an extreme injury -- a runner was rescued after first taking a steep fall and then having a boulder fall on top of him.

Dave Mackey
Dave Mackey (credit: CBS)

Dave Mackey shared his story for the first time since his weekend accident with CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. He's been being treated at Boulder Community Hospital but Denver Health Medical Center is the next stop for Mackey's long recovery process.

BOULDER TRAIL RESCUE map
(credit: CBS)

Steep terrain in Colorado's mountains combined with all the moisture recently may be to blame for Mackey's serious fall. He told Werthmann crews with Rocky Mountain Rescue are nothing short of heroes.

"It was actually pretty scary," Mackey said.

It's not how the elite ultra-distance trail runner typically describes his mountain runs, but when he slipped during a routine run near the summit of Bear Peak in Boulder, "scary" quickly came to mind.

"I fell probably 20, 30 feet," he said.

David Mackey Rescue
Members of Rocky Mountain Rescue Group help stabilize Dave Mackey before evacuating him off of Bear Peak on May 23 in Boulder (credit: Bill Wright)

Tumbling down a series of ledges, Mackey said his left leg caught an edge.

"It just turned and snapped, basically in the middle of my tibia."

RELATED: More Surgery For Elite Mountain Runner Involved In Gruesome Accident On Bear Peak

Falling behind him were several rocks, including one weighing hundreds of pounds.

"Because that rock fell on my leg it actually held me in position where I didn't fall any further."

Dave Mackey Rescue
Members of Rocky Mountain Rescue Group help stabilize Dave Mackey before evacuating him off of Bear Peak on May 23 in Boulder (credit: Bill Wright)

Pinned beneath the large rock, Mackey screamed for help. Soon two people nearby came to his side and used a stick to pry the rock off him and call 911.

Due to the steep and rugged terrain it would take several hours for a Rocky Mountain Rescue crew to get Mackey to safety.

"They saved my life, for sure."

Six hours after his painful fall he underwent surgery to repair his shattered leg.

Dave Mackey
An X-ray of Dave Mackey's leg (credit: CBS)

"So there's a rod between my knee basically down to my foot."

LINK: Listen To The 911 Call

It's scary -- when he thinks about it -- but not so scary to know it may be a long while before he's running again, according to Mackey

"I've been so lucky in 20 years of doing this kind of stuff that I'm actually okay with it. I have a family."

DaveMackeyRescue - 20
Members of Rocky Mountain Rescue Group evacuating Dave Mackey off of Bear Peak on May 23 in Boulder (credit: Bill Wright)

Mackey is at high risk for infection due to his exposed injury. But the father of two is trying to stay positive.

Mackey's friend Bill Wright was one of the first people to respond after hearing the calls for help. He took photos of the successful rescue effort of his friend.

"His ability to stay calm, endure intense pain, and handle a horrific injury was inspiring, astounding, and had everyone involved shaking their heads," Wright said. "If anyone can come back from this, it's Dave, and I'm sure he will, but I suspect it is going to be while before he'll be once again beating us all at everything."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.