'They Saved My Dad's Life': McCaffrey Boys Help Save Injured Hiker
By Michael Spencer & Kelly Werthmann
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4)- The McCaffrey family is known for football, but now they can add "lifesavers" to their lengthy list of accomplishments.
Dan Smoker III told CBS4 about the moment Christian, Dylan and Max McCaffrey, along with Castle Rock native and former Duke football player Michael Mann, helped save his dad's life after he fell off of Castle Rock recently.
Smoker's father, Dan Smoker, Jr., 72, was hiking with his 13-year-old son when the accident occurred.
"I thought I heard like the sound of a shoe slipping and somebody saying 'oh,'" said Eli Smoker, 13. "It sounded like my grandpa so I turned around and I saw him hit the ground."
Smoker, Jr. fell more than 20 feet.
Christian, Max, and Michael then showed up on the trail and helped calm Eli down.
"One of the McCaffrey brothers was on the phone with 911... and then Michael was holding and helping my grandpa," Eli explained. "Had they done what other people were doing and just kept walking, I would've just been alone."
According to Smoker III, he and his wife were out of town celebrating their 15th anniversary while his father was watching their children.
"It was one of the more trying moments of my life, honestly," Smoker III said. "They saved my dad's life. There's no reason that he's here today except for them and the miracle that they brought."
The McCaffery boys and Mann showed up at the hospital to check in on Smoker, Jr.
"Just yesterday, the doctor's went from saying 'if he recovers' to 'when he recovers.' A lot of that has to do with how he was treated in the very beginning," Smoker III said.
Smoker, Jr. is in the Intensive Care Unit at Sky Ridge Medical Center with a broken neck, leg, several ribs among more injuries. He is on a ventilator in a medically induced coma, according to Smoker's son.
Christian McCaffrey recently finished his first season in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Dylan McCaffrey, who was there at the time of the incident, is currently in school at the University of Michigan. Max McCaffrey currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
Michael Spencer is a Sports Anchor at CBS4. Read his bio or connect with him on Twitter @MichaelCBS4.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team as the morning reporter in 2012. After serving as weekend morning anchor, Kelly is now Covering Colorado First for CBS4 News at 10. Connect with Kelly on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @KellyCBS4.
